PLAYER OF THE WEEK. PGJC-Navy's Joeven Dela Vega (No. 18) tries to score against D'Navigators players Kent Sabando (No. 18) and Abdurasad Nursiddik (No. 14) during the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on April 28, 2024. The Sealions won, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-10. (PVL photo)
MANILA – Joeven Dela Vega carried PGJC-Navy to victory last Sunday to earn the Spikers' Turf Press Corps Player of the Week citation for April 24 to 28.
Dela Vega scored 19 points, including eight in the fifth set as Navy survived D'Navigators Iloilo 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-10, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Peter Quiel chipped in 17 points, while Greg Dolor and Omar Lioc added 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Sealions, who triumphed after three hours to end their elimination campaign at 6-2.
For Dela Vega, the win is important to build their confidence in the round-robin Final Four where they will face D’Navigators again on May 5.
“Syempre sobrang importante nito kasi na-boost yung morale namin as a team, kasi makakalaban din namin sila [D’Navigators] sa semis so parang pondo na rin para sa amin (Of course, this is very important because it boosted our morale as a team, because we will compete against them [D'Navigators] in the semis, so it's like a fund for us)," said Dela Vega, adding that he still has to improve.
“Yung floor defense saka mindset gusto ko pang ma-improve talaga para sa semis, handa na ako (The floor defense and the mindset I really want to improve so I will ready for the semis)," he added.
Dela Vega got nine votes from scribes covering the league organized by Sports Vision, beating Criss Cross player Manuel Sumanguid, who had seven.
The other nominees Quiel, Mark Calado (Cignal), Jude Garcia (Criss Cross), Bryan Jaleco (Air Force), and Francis Saura (D’Navigators).
The Navy Sealions will be up against defending champions Cignal HD Spikers in their first game of the semifinal round starting on May 1 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum. (PNA)
