The PGJC Navy Sealions powered their way to a decisive 25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 25-19 win over the struggling D’Navigators Iloilo in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. With this victory at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday night (October 30), the Sealions improved their standing, now tied with Cignal at fourth place.

Sealions Overcome Third-Set Struggles to Regain Control

After commanding wins in the first two sets, the Sealions stumbled in the third, due in part to lapses in communication and inconsistent service reception. Toto dela Vega, who led the Sealions with 20 points, acknowledged the third-set difficulties, explaining, “We lacked service reception, leading to several errors. Communication was also lost at times.” Despite these setbacks, the team regained focus and rallied midway through the fourth set to seal the victory within one hour and 45 minutes.

Dela Vega emphasized the ongoing need for team cohesion, expressing optimism about the Sealions’ growing chemistry: “It’s still a long way to go, but we hope to improve every game,” he added, noting that the team’s adjustments and relaxed approach in the fourth set contributed to the win.

D’Navigators Struggle, Sealions Capitalize

Despite a late-game effort by D’Navigators’ JB San Andres, who executed a well-timed drop shot to save a match point, team captain Kim Dayandante’s serve into the net solidified the Sealions’ win. This victory marked a significant comeback for the Sealions, aligning their standing with the HD Spikers in fourth place. Leading the standings are the undefeated Savage Spin Doctors and DN Steel FEU Ultras with 3-0 records, followed by the Criss Cross King Crushers.

On the other hand, the D’Navigators suffered their third consecutive loss after an initial five-set win over the Chichi DHTSI Titans, currently placing them in eighth in the ten-team rankings.

Team Standouts and Statistical Highlights

Supporting dela Vega’s strong performance, Greg Dolor contributed 14 points, while Peter Quiel, Omar Lioc, and Nilo Jasmin added nine, seven, and six points respectively. Dela Vega also showcased his defensive skill with 11 excellent digs, supported by Dolor’s four, while Jeremy Santos added 12 excellent receptions.

The D’Navigators kept pace with the Sealions in certain areas, matching them with 47 attack points and nine blocks. However, the Sealions’ superior serving game, evidenced by their eight aces compared to D’Navigators’ two, gave them the upper hand. Both teams capitalized on opponent errors, with the D’Navigators handing over 30 points due to unforced errors, while the Sealions allowed 24 points from their own mistakes.

For the D’Navigators, San Andres led with 15 points, while Madz Gampong, Jayvee Sumagaysay, and Edward Camposano contributed 10, nine, and nine points respectively.

As the Spikers’ Turf Invitational progresses, both the Sealions and D’Navigators will aim to solidify their standings. The Sealions are intent on leveraging their developing team chemistry to break into the top three, while the D’Navigators will need to regroup and find their form to climb out of the lower rankings. With each team’s performance tightening in competitiveness, fans can look forward to an action-packed tournament ahead.