After a disappointing campaign in the 2024 Invitationals, PGJC-Navy wasted no time getting back to work, determined to showcase its renewed strength in the upcoming 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
The season-opening tournament of the men's premier league kicks off on Friday, February 21, at the Ynares Sports Arena with a triple-header. The Sealions will face Savouge at 1 p.m., followed by Cignal taking on Alpha Insurance at 3:30 p.m. VNS-Laticrete will then wrap up the day at 6 p.m. against Criss Cross.
PGJC-Navy is banking on familiarity and chemistry as it enters the six-team field with an intact core while adding key reinforcements to bolster its title chances.
Leading the charge once again are the dynamic duo of Greg Dolor and Joeven Dela Vega, along with reliable mainstays Marvin Villanueva, Omar Lioc, and Peter Quiel.
Libero Jack Kalingking is also set to return after missing the last conference due to Navy commitments.
The Sealions further strengthened their roster with the acquisition of middle blockers Herald Domingo and Bonjomar Castel, as well as the return of veteran setter Owen Suarez.
With a reinforced lineup, Dolor is setting his sights on a podium finish after the team settled for seventh place last conference.
“Mataas yung expectation namin na makapasok kami sa semis kasi pinaghahandaan talaga namin ito eh. Every team naman naghahanda pero yung sa amin kasi talagang after December, training na ulit kami,” said Dolor, the team captain.
“Hindi kami tumitigil na kailangan natin maabot yung pangarap natin na makuha yung gold, pero syempre hindi siya makukuha ng basta-basta. Step by step, game per game. Then kapag makapasok ng semis, yun, papalarin tayo,” he added.
The tournament follows a double round-robin format, with matches scheduled every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The top four teams will advance to the round-robin semifinals, with the Finals and the battle for bronze both set as best-of-three series.
Despite the compact schedule requiring them to play three times a week, Dolor is confident in the depth of the Sealions' roster, believing that anyone can step up at any moment.
“Doon na pumapasok yung sa training namin na healthy competition. Hindi mo masasabi kung sa next game maganda yung laro ng bawat isa, so ginagawa namin sa training healthy competition,” shared the long-time Navy leader.
“May mag-step up kapag may pangit ang laro. Hindi lang first six yung maglalaro. Sa training, lahat tinatrabaho ng coaches namin para lahat kami magpantay-pantay. Para pagdating ng game, wala masyadong adjustment kasi pantay-pantay kami.”
Adding to Navy’s firepower is the return of head coach George Pascua, who missed the 2024 Invitationals while conducting coaching clinics in the United States.
For the veteran tactician, the goal remains to secure a podium finish—just as they did in the 2024 Open Conference, where the Sealions clinched bronze in his first tournament with the team.
“Hopefully, one step forward sa naachieve namin nung nandito ako, and then syempre mag-aim pa rin kami na baka sakaling mag-champion kami. It’s a process, medyo mahirap, pero kakayanin,” said Pascua.
