Ilonggo Jade Disquitado was unstoppable after leading D’Navigators-Iloilo in beating AMC Cotabato, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 in the semifinals of the ongoing 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
With an impressive 19 points, on 19 attacks, Disquitado spearheaded the offense of the Ilonggos while Mfena Gwaza chipped in 11 points, on four attacks, four aces, and three blocks.
Deanne Neil De Pedro added 11 points on nine attacks, an ace, and a block to go along with 10 excellent receptions while Rash Nursiddik chipped in nine markers highlighted by four blocks.
It was an easy battle between two rival teams, but Iloilo showed great momentum to seal the victory against Cotabato which is led by Jau Umandal who committed a costly attack error to broke a 23-all deadlock.
According to D’Navigators-Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes, they were able to make some adjustments following their elimination round defeat to the same Cotabato team over the weekend.
“Ito kasi back to zero na ‘to e. Semis na so talagang pinag-ensayuhan namin ‘to, nag-prepare talaga kami sa game na ‘to saka siguro para sa amin din talaga ‘tong game na ‘to, binigay talaga siguro ni Lord sa amin,” said Panes.
Umandal was the lone double-digit scorer for the Cotabato Spikers with a team-high 11 points to go along with four excellent digs. Lloyd Josafat added six markers while Madz Gampong had five points.
D’Navigators-Iloilo (1-0) will go up against the unbeaten Cignal HD Spikers at the resumption of the semifinals round, while Cotabato (0-1) eyes to bounce back against Imus-Ivy Tuason Photography.
The HD Spikers had earlier drawn first blood in the single-round robin semifinals with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 sweep of Imus with Marck Espejo spearheading the offense with 19 points.IMT Sports
