PGJC-Navy easily advanced to the semifinals, while National University-Pasay City bundled out of contention in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League men's semifinals Friday at the Philsports Arena.
The Sea Lions disposed of Santa Rosa, 25-13, 25-16, 25-21, with Christian Marcelino leading the way with 14 points.
But the Bulldogs, the reigning UAAP and Spikers' Turf Open Conference champions, won't have another chance of adding another title to their vast collection.
Imus City, behind Madz Gampong's 25-point outburst, pulled off a shock 20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 win over NU-Pasay, in the quarterfinals' biggest upset.
Cignal forged a semifinal meeting with Imus with a 25-23, 21-25, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11 squeaker over a hard-fighting Bacolod City.
Marck Espejo had 23 points, including two service aces, while JP Bugaoan and Ysay Marasigan each had 13 points as the HD Spikers dodged the upset axe, rallying from a 1-2 set deficit to prevail.
"Yung first three sets nawala ang receive namin. Nawala yung depensa, nawala yung system namin when it comes to blocking," said coach Dexter Clamor. "Ang ginawa naming adjustment, nakita namin na effective yung gitna namin. So maximize namin.
"And then noong patapos na ang laro, nandoon yung maturity ng mga players. Yun experience namin talaga."
Coach Cecille Cruzada is satisfied with the way PGJC-Navy is performing as the Sea Lions aim to follow up their third-place finish in the Spikers' Turf last September.
"So far, paangat ng paangat sila," said Cruzada, whose team topped Pool A with a 4-0 card. "Kasi before sa Spikers' Turf, yung service receive namin medyo mahina, hindi namin nabigayan ng time. So ngayon, sa ensayo namin, nag-overtime kami sa service receive nila. Doon, na-perform nila ng maayos. Nagkaroon sila ng hard service, yung first ball nila okay. Maganda ang performance nila kanina."
Extending its perfect run to five matches, PGJC-Navy will face North Cotabato, a 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 victors over Army Taguig City, for a place in tomorrow's finals at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, to be followed by the Cignal-Imus duel at 7:30 p.m.
"Ang advantage po talaga namin is yung fast start and consistency. Consistent sa atake, sa serving sa blocking at sa service," said Marcelino.
Greg Dolor and Joeven dela Vega each scored 13 points for PGJC-Navy.
Jade Disquitado had nine points to lead the Lions, one of the two best-third placed teams in the pool round.
Mark Enciso, meanwhile, scored 10 points for the Troopers.
