Iloilo brushed off a first-set stumble, sweeping the next three to annex a 23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23 victory over VNS and stretch its impressive start to three wins for the solo lead in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Sunday.
Skipper Jerome Cordez flashed awesome power as he unloaded 16 kills for a 17-point output, nearly doubling his nine-point showing in the D’Navigators’ three-set romp over the defending champion National U Volley Builders last week.
Middle blockers Naz Gwaza and Rashh Nursiddik also stepped up to finish with 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Jade Disquitado and Neil De Pedro also shone with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
"Yung determination (to win) talagang nandiyan eh. Sabi ko maglaro lang kayo nang maayos, gawin niyo lang 'yung part niyo para kung ano man 'yung result, wala tayong pagsisisihan," said Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes.
The D'Navigators, who also swept the Air Force side last Jan. 25, recovered from a close first set setback with a dominating win in the next then showed their endgame composure in the last two sets to complete the four-set win. They shattered a 21-all count in the third and took four of the next five points, then clinched the tightly-fought fourth set on VNS’ back-to-back service miscues.
Pemie Bagalay put the Griffins back within one in the fourth with a through-the-block hit before VNS subbed out Russel Fronda for Edward Andrada, who however proved cold and served long.
"Ibalik niyo lang 'yung intensity niyo kasi hindi kayo ganyan maglaro eh. 'Yung intensity niyo bumaba kaya ganon," Panes told his wards after dropping the opening salvo.
Fronda led VNS with 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks, Ron Medalla added 14 points on 12 spikes and two aces while Bagalay finished with 11 markers for the Griffins, who dropped to 1-2.
