Dasma, Manileño, Global in semifinals (Sabong News)
Author
Josef Ramos
Date
DECEMBER 01 2021
TEAM Dasmariñas, VNS Manileño Spikers and Global Remit all won on Wednesday to complete the semifinals cast of the men’s Champions League of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League on Wednesday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center in Lipa City.
Team Dasmariñas completed a three-match sweep of Pool A with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 victory over Sabong International Spikers (SIS), VNS Manileño Spikers nailed a 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 win over the Basilan Steel Spikers Amin-Anak Mindanao to bag the remaining semifinals berth in Pool A and Global Remit beat MRT-Negros, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, to join Go for Gold-Air Force in the semifinals on Friday.
Go for Gold-Air Force topped the three-team Pool A with five points, followed by VNS with four points—with Basilan losing both its matches. In the four-team Pool B, Team Dasmariñas had eight points on a 3-0 card, followed by Global Remit with four points and SIS also with four points and MRT-Negros with two points.
The tie break had to be applied in Pool B for the second qualifier with Global Remit earning the semifinals berth via the sets ratio. Global Remit had 6-6, while SIS only had 5-7 after the tiebreak was applied.
The classification matches between Basilan and MRT-Negros are set at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday while the semifinals schedule on Friday pits Go for Gold against Global Remit at 1:30 p.m. and Team Dasmariñas against VNS Manileño Spikers at 4 p.m. The final is on Saturday.
“We are happy of course that we ranked No. 1 in our bracket, that’s our short-term goal for this tournament,” said Team Dasmariñas coach Norman Miguel, whose main concern right now is the fitness of thehis players. “I think, we have to work on our conditioning. Good thing, we have to rest tomorrow (Thursday).” Madzlan Gampong went 8-of-14 on attacks and had three blocks and a service ace for 12 points to lead the Monarchs to the semifinals of the tournament that has Rebisco, Pitmaster Foundation Inc., Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors and F2 Logistics, Asics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation and Mikasa as gold sponsors and BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Lipa City, Davis Paint and Emerald PVC Pipes, Fittings and Doors as silver sponsors with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.
Coach Ralph Ocampo, meanwhile, was satisfied the way the Manileño Spikers bounced back from their loss to the Aguilas where they pushed their fancied foes to the distance.
“I told them, it’s a do-or-die game. Most of my players are young, 20 to 21 years old, so the pressure is there especially against the veterans,” Ocampo said. “I told them, we need to stick to our system in our defense and attack. The results will follow if we do things right.”
The Manileño Spikers drew a solid all-around game from John Benedict San Andres, the 21-year old-Mapua standout, who came through with 13 points, 13 receptions and six digs.
Rwenzmel Taguibolos also delivered three of the Manileño Spikers’ six blocks to finish with 10 points
Joeven Dela Vega willed Global Remit to victory with 12 points, including two blocks, aside from his leadership that keyed his team’s victory.
“We had a pep talk and we were determined to get this one,” said De la Vega, a member of the national pool. “Our mindset is to play without pressure. We were able to communicate, get established and we were able to adjust.”
Despite a very short preparation, Global Remit coach Edgardo Rusit finally had a sigh of relief.
“We are very thankful because we were able to hung on until the very end and we were very hopeful to make it to the semifinals,” Rusit said. “As the games on go, we are getting better.”
