Cignal snapped a prolonged scoreless streak in the third set, quashing Nxled’s last-ditch attempt at a comeback with pivotal hits from Jovelyn Fernandez and Chai Troncoso as the HD Spikers clinched a 25-21, 25-17, 25-21 victory to force a three-way tie for the lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena Thursday night.
Despite extending their streak to three for joint lead with the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos displayed dissatisfaction, particularly with his wards' inability to seal the victory convincingly.
After storming to a huge 23-10 lead in the third, the HD Spikers allowed the Chameleons to unleash an eight-point rally, converting Cignal’s mishits into counter-attacks, anchored on Jho Maraguinot.
Delos Santos called for consecutive timeouts to regroup and Fernandez fortunately came through with a crucial block on Maraguinot, and after blowing three match points, Troncoso secured the win with a well-placed touch block following a precise set from Gel Cayuna.
“We still need to work hard,” said Roselyn Doria, who emerged the game’s best player with 10 points while downplaying the team’s failure to close out the Chameleons decisively.
“Nxled did what it was supposed to do,” said Doria in acknowledging Nxled’s commendable comeback.
The loss dropped Nxled to 0-3 in a tie with Galeries Tower.
Despite Cignal’s dominance, Nxled flashed resiliency in the opening set, clawing back from a 15-21 deficit with four consecutive hits. The HD Spikers, however, regained control to annex the set.
They continued to stamp their class in the second and overwhelmed the Chameleons from start to finish and looked headed to another romp after storming to a 23-10 bulge in the third as the Chameleons suffered a big blow with the sidelining of top spiker Ivy Lacsina due to injury.
Ces Molina led Cignal’s charge with 14 points, while Jovelyn Gonzaga and Riri Meneses matched eight-point outputs and Vanie Gandler and Cayuna added six and five points, respectively.
Cayuna also wound up with 20 excellent sets, outplaying counterpart Kamille Cal, who had 11 sets in the one-hour and 29-minute encounter.
Maraguinot scored 11 points while Lycha Ebon and Lacsina chipped in nine and eight points, respectively, for the Chameleons, who lost in spikes, 33-48, and blocks, 1-6. They, however, finished with four aces against the HD Spikers’ two.
