Iloilo got back at AMC-Cotabato and took the game that mattered in their personal duel, hacking out a 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 victory to join Cignal in the early lead in the semifinal round of the 2023 Spikers Turf Open Conference, Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The D’Navigators banked on their 1-2 punch in Jade Disquitado and Mfena Gwaza to hold off the Cotabao Spikers in the last two sets with the former finishing with a game-high 19 points, all on attacks while the latter adding four attacks, four aces, and three blocks for 11 points.
“Ito kasi back to zero na ‘to eh. Semis na so talagang pinag-ensayuhan namin ‘to, nag-prepare talaga kami sa game na ‘to saka siguro para sa amin din talaga ‘tong game na ‘to, binigay talaga siguro ni Lord sa amin,” said Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes, who wards bowed to the Cotabato Spikers in four at the close of the elims last Sunday.
Cignal and Iloilo will clash for the solo lead at resumption of the semis tomorrow while Imus and Cotabato knock each other out in the other game.
Cotabato’s Jau Umandal committed a costly attack error that broke a 23-all count in the third set then Rash Nursiddik blocked Steven Trotter in the ensuing play to clinch the win for the D’Navigators.
Deanne Neil De Pedro added 11 points on nine attacks, an ace and a block and finished with 10 excellent receptions while Nursiddik chipped in nine markers highlighted by four huge blocks.
“Sabi ko sa kanila mag-trabaho lang sila nang maayos. Dapat nandoon pa rin yung team work, yung discipline saka yung respect sa isa’t isa sabi ko makukuha namin ‘to kasi alam namin yung skills, nandiyan tayo e,” added Panes.
Umandal the Cotabato Spikers with 11 points to go along with four excellent digs while Lloyd Josafat added six markers and Madz Gampong had five points.
