BY ABBY TORALBA
MORE intense and grind-out showdowns should be expected as the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference semifinals begin with two explosive matches today at the Paco Arena.
After the eliminations, the PGJC-Navy Sealions, reigning champions Cignal HD Spikers, NU-Sta. Elena Nationals and VNS-One Alicia Griffins will battle it out in the round-robin semis.
The Sealions, HD Spikers and Nationals finished the elims with identical records of 5-1, while the Griffins advanced to the playoffs with 3-3 mark.
Cignal takes on NU-Sta. Elena at 5:30 p.m. after VNS-One Alicia tackles Navy at 2:30.
The HD Spikers ended the elims stint with a 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 victory over the Nationals two days ago.
“Actually, ang first game namin sa semis I think ranked 2 kami, ranked 3 iyong Sta. Elena so sila ulit ang kalaban namin (ngayon). Sabi nga ni Marck (Espejo), siguro mas na-gain namin iyong respeto nila sa amin since nanalo kami sa eliminations, last game against them so from there medyo mataas iyong morale namin and isang araw lang iyong pahinga, laban na ulit kami,” Cignal coach Dexter Clamor said.
“But still, pag-aaralan namin ulit iyong mga lapses namin lalo na iyong mga patapos na set. Pag-aaralan ulit namin kung ano iyong mga strength nila and mga adjustment na gagawin nila,” he added.
Cignal will bank on open hitter Marck Espejo, team captain Ysay Marasigan, Louie Ramirez, JP Bugaoan, and libero Manuel Sumanguid.
NU-Sta. Elena are expected to battle back behind skipper Joshua Retamar, Nico Almendras, Kennry Malinis, Michaelo Buddin and Obed Mukaba.
The Griffins showed Army-Katinko the door with a 25-20, 25-16, 26-28, 25-21 win last Tuesday.
Skipper Ben San Andres, Kevin Montemayor, Uriel Mendoza and Roniey Adviento will be counted upon by VNS-One Alicia to deliver.
“Mindset lang namin sa semis, maging consistent sa mga ginagalaw namin kasi nga iyong lahat nung games na iyon meron kaming almost na nakuhang set, dikit-dikit kami. Bilog ang bola. Ang sinasabi ko sa mga player ko, kumbaga iyong mga tao pare-parehas na may kamay at paa iyan so tayo rin, kung ano ang mayroon sila, mayroon rin tayo. Example, ito iyong strength nila as a team, mayroon din iyang weakness,” Griffins tactician Ralph Ocampo said.
“Same as our team so ang gagawin lang namin is cover namin iyong weakness namin and then i-showcase pa namin iyong mga strength namin.”
PGJC-Navy will rely on Joshua Umandal, Greg Dolor, Peter Quiel and Jemmy Entig.
