MANILA – Iloilo D’Navigators secured a seat in the semifinals of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Men’s Champions League after a 25-18, 25-22, 25-19 victory over Army on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
John San Andres led the way for the Ilonggos with 17 points, all coming from attacks, Kyle Villamor added 11 markers apiece, while Jayvee Sumagsasay and Abdurasad Nursiddik contributed 10 points each.
“We’re harnessing for the semifinals and as I said before, if we stay consistent, we’ll sail all the way to the final,” said Iloilo coach Rizalito Delmoro, whose team earlier swept Philippine Air Force and VNS for a 3-0 record in Pool B.
Cignal HD Spikers, for their part, also reached the semifinals round after rolling past the Savouge Spin Doctors, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22, for an unbeaten 3-0 win-loss record in Pool A.
All players, except for the liberos, scored in Cignal’s straight-sets victory, led by Philippine men’s volleyball team member Joshua Umandal with 11 points on nine hits and two aces.
“Ito naman ‘yung unang goal namin ngayong elims, na makapunta ng semifinals. One at a time, ngayon nandito na kami, so we will prepare harder para makapunta ng championship,” said HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor.
Frederick Calado, the former PNVF Champions League MVP, added eight, with team captain JP Bugaoan, Madz Gampong, and Ruvince Abrot adding five points each for Cignal HD.
Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde Blazers fended off PGJC-Philippine Navy, 26-24, 25-22, 14-25, and 25-22, to clinch the No. 2 seed in Pool A and the final ticket to the Final Four.
Jacob Herrera and Mike Balbacal posted 12 points each, while James Marasigan had 11 for the Blazers, which will face Pool B’s top-ranked team, the Iloilo D’Navigators, in the knockout semis.
VNS Asereht clinched the remaining semifinals spot from Pool B following a 25-17, 28-30, 25-21, 31-29 conquest of Philippine Air Force. Charles Segui sizzled for a game-high 22 points for VNS./PN
