Showing aggressiveness in the game, D’Navigators-Iloilo survived a tough challenge from the hands of Philippine Army Troopers as they beat the latter, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at Paco Arena in Manila.
Leading the assault, Jade Disquitado, a member of the Philippine national volleyball team pool, anchored the offense with 19 points, including 18 attacks, while Jerome Cordez chipped in 14 markers for the Iloilo City-based spikers.
It was a neck-and-neck clash between two powerhouse teams, but Iloilo setter JM Apolinario controlled the game with 27 excellent sets and two blocks , while Neil De Pedro showcased his versatility with nine points and 14 excellent receptions.
After dropping the opening set, D’Navigators-Iloilo bounced back in the second set with a 25-20 victory and a close third set 26-24, courtesy of Cordez and middle blocker Nas Gwaza.
The D’Navigators-Iloilo did not let go of the momentum since then. They finished the game with a lopsided fourth set with Rash Nursiddik, Disquitado, and Cordez taking turns to seal the win.
With the win, the team moved up to solo first place with 4-0 slate. According to head coach John Kenneth Panes, they needed to work harder and do their part every game. “This can’t happen or we’ll lose. I’m glad they listened. We will still continue to train despite our two-week break as Disquitado is set to join the national men’s volleyball team’s 10-day training camp in Taiwan,” he added.IMT Sports
