AMC-Cotabato, banking on Jau Umandal’s power and superb floor defense, cut the young Santa Rosa side down to size, fashioning out a 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17 victory to regain a share of the lead in the Spikers' Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
Umandal unloaded 18 kills and came through with three blocks and an ace for a 22-point showing and his spiked another near-impeccable performance with 14 excellent receptions to steer the Cotabato Spikers to their third straight win and tie the idle Imus AJAA Spikers at the helm.
Madz Gampong and Jayvee Sumagaysay chipped in 10 points apiece while five more Cotabato players scored at least six points to underscore the team’s balanced offensive sock. Arnold Bautista scored seven points and Rex Intal, Edward Camposano, Fauzi Ismail and Lloyd Josafat tossed in six points apiece.
Still, Cotabato coach Odjie Mamon was far from behind satisfied.
"Mayroon akong gusto na makitang dalawang rotation na maimprove pero sumama naman 'yung dalawang posisyon, even lang walang improvement," said Mamon, who rued his wards’ glaring 40 errors.
"Pero yung grit, yung kapit namin, yung resilience, composure. Syempre mas beterano ito kesa sa kabilang team," he added.
AMC fell by three points midway in the first set before Bautista took over as the Cotabato Spikers gained the set, only to succumb to the City Lions onslaught anchored on Yoyong Mendoza.
But Umandal and Ismail re-imposed their will and the Cotabato Spikers sustained their charge all the way to the fourth to keep their unbeaten run.
Mendoza scored 13 points while Axel Book added 10 markers for the Lions, who fell to 0-4.
Meanwhile, nine Cotabato mainstays, along with Mamon, will join the national team in a 10-day training camp in Taiwan starting Feb. 15. They will next play on March 1 against National U-Archipelago.
