Cignal tightened up the race for the last two semifinal berths, bundling out a hapless UAI-Army side, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19, to force a three-way tie at fourth in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference elims at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday.
The HD Spikers came out of the long break in top form, out-steadying the Lady Troopers in the stretch in the opening frame, breaking away late in the next, and dominating the third to even their card at 2-2 in a tie with F2 Logistics and Choco Mucho.
The Flying Titans, however, were gunning for their third victory against the struggling Akari Chargers (1-4) at presstime.
Cignal likewise gained inspiration from the return of middle Ria Meneses with coach Shaq delos Santos also drawing big games from his starters, including reinforcement Tai Bierria, Rachel Ann Daquis, Ces Molina, Roselyn Doria and playmaker Gel Cayuna in a match that also marked the implementation of the league’s Video Challenge System.
The VideoCheck, a cutting-edge decision review system that operates through 23 high-speed cameras and manufactured by Genius Sports, is a process whereby video review is used to confirm, reverse or replay specific decisions made by the officiating team.
“We’re thankful for being able to play with a complete roster. Ria (Meneses) and Ces’ (Molina) presence really helped boost our morale,” said Cayuna, who clinched the game’s top honors with 20 excellent sets. “But we still have to push ourselves and work on our flaws.”
But while the HD Spikers were back in the hunt, the Lady Troopers bowed out of the semis race after absorbing their fifth straight defeat in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Chery Tiggo clinched the first Final Four seat with a 5-0 slate while Creamline is a cinch to nail the next with a 4-0 mark with the duo clashing in a blockbuster match ib Saturday at Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Bierria came away with 17 points, while Daquis and Molina finished with 10 points apiece, Meneses and Doria matched seven-point outputs and Angeli Araneta added six points for the HD Spikers, who outhit the Troopers, 48-34, and finished with seven blocks, three more than their rivals.
Import Laura Condotta topscored for Army with 13 while Jovelyn Gonzaga and Jeanette Villareal had 10 and seven points, respectively, and Honey Royse Tubino settled for a six-point game in a key match.
