PGJC-NAVY halted a two-game skid while extending Philippine Air Force’s woes to three games, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, in a battle of rivals in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Olympics in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at Paco Arena Sunday.
Sealions captain Greg Dolor was the high man with 25 points on 22 attacks, two kill blocks, and a service ace to help his team jump back to the winning column.
And Dolor was the one who made the separation hits in the fourth set when the Airmen were still in striking distance, tallying six points down the stretch including the game-clinching block over Edwin Tolentino.
“We needed to improve on our communication on the court,” said Navy head coach Cecille Cruzada, whose squad got nine blocks against their opponents’ six. “The boys have improved on their first ball.”
Errors doomed the Airmen in the third set, giving up four free points to the Sealions to turn a 19-all affair into a 25-22 loss with Dolor and Christian Marcelino also delivering the hits.
Navy rose to 2-3 won-lost for a tie at sixth place with Philippine Army. Air Force sank deeper to 1-5.
“We really prepated for Air Force,” Cruzada said. “We’re playing catch up in the standings.”
Marcelino added 17 points and 16 excellent receptions for the victors while Marvin Villanueva continued to fill the shoes of Jude Garcia—who is still recovering from a sprained left ankle—with 10 points and seven digs.
Ranran Abdilla, who gave the Airmen their lone set after back-to-back backrow kills, had 25 points, 13 excellent receptions and seven digs, while Tolentino got 16.
Rence Melgar took care of the floor defense with 24 receptions and 14 digs.