loilo picked up where it left off but needed to check an impending skid and repel PGJC-Navy, 28-26, 25-21, 20-25, 15-25, 15-11, in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena on Wednesday.
Jade Disquitado, coming off a training camp with the national team in Taiwan, fired 21 points in his return and helped the D’Navigators remain perfect with a 5-0 card.
Mfena Gwaza and Jerome Cordez provided 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Rash Nursiddik chipped in 10 markers.
“Sabi ko ibalik lang nila yung intensity nila kasi nung third set and fourth set wala e. Masyadong relaxed, complacent sila, so sabi ko kung gusto nilang manalo, kailangan mag-trabaho sila kasi kung gustong manalo, dapat paghirapan,” said Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes.
“Konting adjustment lang din. Sa kanila mismo nanggalin, sila yung nag-relax kaya ganun yung result nung pagre-relax nila. At least ngayon nakabawi sila,” he added.
Iloilo blew its chance for a sweep as it came out a little bit complacent after sweeping the first two sets, enabling the Sealions to force a decider.
Trailing by one in the final set, Iloilo went to Deanne De Pedro and Disquitado, who responded and keyed the team's big 4-0 run that allowed the D’Navigators to surge past the Sealions, 13-10.
De Pedro committed a net violation which pulled the Sealions closer but Disquitado took over and scored over Navy’s blockers on two consecutive attempts to finish off the Sealions.
John Michael Apolinario had 29 excellent sets in the game for Iloilo while Johnmark Espanso had 23 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
