Cignal HD toppled Iloilo D’Navigators, 27-25, 31-33, 25-16, 25-18, to regain the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League men’s crown over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
With a perfect 5-0 campaign, the HD Spikers clinched its second title in the PNVF and avenged the tough defeat of their women counterparts against Petro Gazz in the women’s final last week.
“It’s very fulfilling, last year we lost, we revamped with young enthusiastic and eager players who want to be champions,” Cignal HD coach Dexter Clamor said. “It’s definitely a satisfying and happy feeling.”
National men’s team spiker Joshua Umandal led the way with a 28-point eruption on 23 attacks, four blocks and an ace — numbers that earned him the Most Valuable Player honors.
He was also named the First Best Outside Hitter with teammates JP Bugaoan (Second Best Middle Blocker), who dropped 23 points in against Iloilo, and Gabriel EJ Casana (Best Setter) joining him in the Dream Team.
Iloilo’s Jayvee Sumagaysay emerged as the First Middle Blocker, his teammate John Benedict San Andres as the Second Best Outside Hitter, VNS Asereht’s Kevin Montemayor as Best Opposite Spiker and College of Saint Benilde’s Alvin Bryle Gomez as the Best Libero.
VNS was hailed with the Fair Play Award to cap the awardees in the men’s tilt of the PNVF.
Besides Umandal and team captain Bugaoan, Mark Frederick Calado and Lloyd Josafat also provided ample support with 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the HD Spikers finished off the D’Navigators in one hour and 48 minutes despite extended duels in the first two sets, 27-25 and 31-33.
The D’Navigators of veteran coach Rizalito Delmoro leaned on Kyle Villamor with 24 points while San Andres and Sumagaysay had 11 and 10 points, respectively, but they still fell short after also sweeping their way to the finals.
Saint Benilde, meanwhile, scored a 25-18, 25-22, 26-24 victory over VNS in the bronze-medal match to complete the podium of the first event this year by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
