CIGNAL HD, Iloilo and VNS Asereht are living up to expectations by advancing to the semifinals from their respective pools in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League.

The fancied HD Spikers secured the No. 1 seed in Pool A at 2-0 won-lost with a game left in their schedule while the D’Navigators went 3-0 in Pool B followed by the Griffins (2-1) following their big wins Tuesday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Joshua Umandal starred anew with 19 points on 15 hits, three blocks and an ace as Cignal drubbed PGJC-Philippine Navy, 25-15, 25-21, 27-25, to follow up on its opening-day win over College of Saint Benilde entering its last duel against the Savouge Spin Doctors.

The HD Spikers’ victory left Savouge Spin Doctors (1-1),  Saint Benilde (1-1) and even winless Navy (0-2) scrambling for the last semifinals ticket from Pool A pending the key results of the final elimination playdate.

Iloilo and VNS Asereht bagged crucial victories to secure the two seats in Pool B of the PNVF men’s tournament backed by PLDT, Ayala Land, Nuvali, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+, Mikasa, Senoh, Foton, Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

“We’re harnessing for the semifinals and as I said before, if we stay consistent, we’ll sail all the way to the final,” said Iloilo coach Rizalito Delmoro after an easy 25, 18, 25-22, 25-19 victory over Army.

John San Andres fired 17 points on 17 hits, Kyle Villamor had 11 and Jayvee Sumagsasay and Abdurasad Nursiddik added 10 each for the D’Navigators, who also swept Air Force and VNS for a perfect run without a single set lost so far.

VNS, after a tough loss to Iloilo in the opener, strung two victories none bigger than an exciting 25-17, 28-30, 25-21, 31-29 conquest of Air Force to barge into the semifinals.

“Making the semis is a gift,” said coach Ralph Ocampo as VNS is back in the semifinals after a bronze medal finish last edition.

Charles Segui sizzled for a game-high 22 points while Kevin Montemayor and Kenneth Culabat contributed 21 points each to form a lethal troika for the Griffins, who also drew 10 points from Ralph Lacuanan.

VNS’s win eliminated Army and Air Force regardless of the results of their last match to cap Pool B action in the first event this year of the PNVF headed by president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Games Tuesday:

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)

8 a.m. – Marikina City vs PGJC Navy (men’s)
10 a.m. – VNS Asereht vs RTU (men’s)
12 nn – University of Batangas vs Cignal (men’s)
2 p.m. – Kuya JM-Davao City vs Volida Volleyball Club (men’s)
4 p.m. – Parañaque vs Volida Volleyball Club (women’s)
6 p.m. – Philippine Air Force vs Davao City (women’s)

Fancied squads Cignal HD and PGJC Navy look to sustain their hot start against separate foes to bolster their respective playoff hopes at the resumption of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Challenge Cup on Tuesday (14 November 2023) at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

PGJC Navy (1-0) takes on the debuting Marikina City at 8 a.m. in Pool C of the men’s division to open the loaded six-game bill as Cignal (1-0) battles University of Batangas (1-0) at noon for the solo lead in Pool A.

In between is the duel of VNS Asereht (1-0) and Rizal Technological University-Basilan (0-1)  at 10 a.m. in Pool B while Kuya JM-Davao City plunges into first action against the Volida Volleyball Club (0-1) also in Pool A at 2 p.m.

The Sealions are coming off an easy 25-18, 25-23, 25-10 win over Plaridel, Quezon for their rousing debut. They are determined to pick up where they left off despite an expected strong debut from Marikina.

The HD Spikers, for their part, want no let-up even against the University of Batangas after a 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 win over Savouge Aesthetics in the opener last week.

UB also took care of its first assignment against the Volida Volleyball Club, 25-14, 25-12, 25-11.

In the women’s play, Volida Volleyball Club debuts in Pool A against Parañaque City at 4 p.m. as the Philippine Air Force and Davao City also spike for first win in Pool B at 6 p.m. to cap a loaded Week 2 opener of the tourney supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT, Rebisco, Akari, Foton, and CBPI.

Back-to-back NCAA champion College of St. Benilde, with a 2-0 record in Pool A, paces the 16-team women’s division of the Challenge Cup, formerly the Champions League.

UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas, also unbeaten in two games in Pool D, shows the way in the 20-team men’s division as the PNVF, headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, holds its penultimate tourney this season after a bevy of banner tournaments highlighted by the country’s hosting of the prestigious Volleyball Nations League.

(ai/mnm)