Stung by a massive setback to Creamline the last time, Cignal got down to business as soon it answered the whistle to score a 25-10, 25-14, 25-15 win over grossly overmatched Farm Fresh on Thursday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The HD Spikers displayed unparalleled vigor from the get-go, overpowering the Foxies with a an avalanche of attacks that left their stunned rivals struggling to find their game
Behind Gel Cayuna’s solid playmaking, Cignal’s offense, led by Jovelyn Gonzaga, Vanie Gandler, Ces Molina and Roselyn Doria, proved unstoppable.
Their coordinated assaults and defense were too much for Farm Fresh, which faltered under the pressure of Cignal’s fiery game.
Doria, emerging as the game’s best player with eight attack points, reflected on the team’s motivation driven by the Creamline defeat. In that encounter, the HD Spikers won the first two sets but yielded the next three.
“I just did what I had to do for the team. We learned a lot from that loss to Creamline,” Doria said.
Against the Foxies, the HD Spikers highlighted their resolve to storm back and re-assert their presence in the competition, leaving no room for the Foxies to stage a comeback.
“We are very happy and thankful because what we endured before the Holy Week and after we showed in this game,” Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos said.
Gonzaga topscored for Cignal with 17 points while Molina and Gandler added 11 and 10 points, respectively for the HD Spikers, who also drew six points from Riri Meneses and five from Cayuna, who finished with 18 excellent sets.
Cignal thus stayed in the thick of the semis race, joining Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo at fourth at 5-2 (win-loss) behind joint leaders Choco Mucho, PLDT and Creamline, which tote identical 6-1 marks.
The HD Spikers, however, will face top contenders in their next two games, tangling with the Crossovers on 11 April and squaring off with the Angels on 16 April.
“Every game is a must-win for us,” Doria said.
