Team Dasma edges gritty Manileño Spikers to punch PNVF Champions League finals ticket

The Team Dasma Monarchs needed five sets to fend off gallant VNS Manileño Spikers in the semifinals, 25-20, 30-28, 20-25, 21-25, 18-16, and book their ticket for the PNVF Champions League finals on Friday.

The win set up Team Dasma in a championship showdown with another powerhouse in the Go for Gold-Air Force Aguilas, who earlier edged Global Remit in their own semifinal clash.

It wasn't exactly an easy win for the Monarchs, dropping the third and fourth frames after building a 2-0 set advantage to open the match.

Team captain Jayvee Sumagaysay led the charge in the deciding set after unleashing back-to-back points for an early 4-2 lead. That lead grew to as big as 10-5 following a couple of errors from the side of Manileño Spikers.

The Spikers, however, roared back late in the game and tied the game at 14-all before Arnold Bautista gave the lead anew to Team Dasma through a powerful hit, 15-14.

An open attack from Benjaylo Labide then tied it all up again at 16 to give Manileño enough opportunity to steal the game but Mark Calado handed another match point to Team Dasma, 17-16.

It was Kris Silang, though, who put the exclamation point as Team Dasma arrange a finals duel with the Aguilas, 18-16

Calado finished with an impressive 28 points while Madzlan Gampong carved out 17 points.

John Benedict San Andres, Kevin Montemayor, and Labide, meanwhile, led the Manileño Spikers after pouring in 16 points each.

The gold medal round is slated for Saturday at 4 p.m. with the bronze medal match between Manileño Spikers and Global Remit serving as opening salvo at 1:30 p.m.

—JMB, GMA News