Cignal salvaged a semblance of pride from a challenging campaign in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, delivering a resounding victory over Capital1, 25-19, 25-17, 25-20, to finish sixth at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Saturday.
The HD Spikers closed out their prelims campaign on back-to-back victories, including a notable four-set win over the PLDT High Speed Hitters last weekend, a match that surprised many fans as they likewise eliminated their sister team from semis contention.
With a 7-4 record, Cignal wound up sixth behind PLDT, which actually tied Creamline at fourth at 8-3. However, the defending champions claimed the last semis seat with a superior points tally of 24 compared to the High Speed Hitters’ 23.
Still, the consecutive victories should provide a morale boost for Cignal as the HD Spikers prepare for the Second Conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“We really wanted to finish our campaign with a victory,” said Roselyn Doria, who bagged the game’s top honors with 12 points, all on attacks. “The last two wins really boosted our morale. We’ve learned so many lessons from this experience, so you can count on us in the next conference.”
Although Capital1 took command early in the third set, 5-1, Cignal swiftly responded with a four-point rally to level the score. The HD Spikers then capitalized on their opponents’ service faults to regain control, 8-6.
Led by Ces Molina and Doria, with support from Gen Casugod, Chai Troncoso and Jovelyn Fernandez, Cignal asserted its dominance with a 10-5 run, storming ahead at 17-13.
Capital1, however, refused to give up, mounting a comeback led by Janeca Lana, whose off-the-block hit pulled the Solar Spikers within, 19-20.
A Casugod block off Jorelle Singh’s backrow attack, however, gave Cignal a two-point cushion, but a fault from Troncoso from the backrow enabled the Solar Spikers to stay in the hunt.
However, Shirley Salamagos served into the net, much to the disappointment of coach Roger Gorayeb, and the HD Spikers closed out with three unanswered points to seal the victory.
The match concluded after one hour and 25 minutes, with another flawed attack from Singh contributing to Cignal’s win.
Molina also finished with 12 markers while Jovelyn Gonzaga scored nine points and Vanie Gandler added six points in two-set stints, and Casugod and Fernandez added five markers apiece.
Capital1 ended its maiden campaign with a 1-10 record with Singh top-scoring for the Solar Spikers with 14 points but failing to draw solid backup from the rest. Lourdes Clemente scored seven markers while Lana, Rovena Instrella and Salamagos chipped in four points apiece.
