Cignal joined F2 Logistics in the early Group B lead in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference, staying connected despite a breakdown in the face of Petro Gazz’s strong start and fighting back from points down in the fourth to squeak out an 18-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 decision on Tuesday.
Baffling the Angels with their combo plays and scoring a couple of points on drop balls, the HD Spikers rattled off four straight hits to wrest control at 17-16 then after Jonah Sabete saved a match point for Petro Gazz, Cignal took the win on the last of the Angels’ spate of offensive lapses in the fourth.
Ces Molina came away with 22 points while Jovelyn Gonzaga played as if she had not left indoor volley to focus on beach volley early in the season, finishing with 11 attack points on her way to a 13-point output. Roselyn Doria added 12 hits and Riri Meneses scored 11 points for Cignal, which also drew eight points from rookie and former Ateneo stalwart Vanessa Gandler.
“I just reminded them that we needed to execute our plays,” said Cignal coach Shaq de los Santos, referring to his wards’ slow start. “We actually came into the match ready against Petro. Medyo nag-struggle lang nung umpisa but after a while, gumanda na ang service at receive namin.”
“Sobrang fulfilling na makalaro uli (sa Cignal). I’m so excited. Though medyo nag-struggle sa first set, I told myself that I needed to step up,” said Gonzaga.
On the strength of their fiery first set assault, Petro Gazz came away with 67 attack points, 10 more than Cignal but the HD Spikers produced eight blocks and the same number of aces against their rivals’ two apiece.
More importantly, Cignal scored 21 points off Petro Gazz’s miscues while yielding 14 points of their own.
Grethcel Soltones matched Molina’s output while Sabete backed her up with 21 hits but Remy Palma finished with just nine markers and Marian Buitre and Aiza Pontillas added seven and six hits, respectively, for the Angels, who finished runner-up to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the recent PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Soltones tried to single-handedly save the Angels, banging in three straight blasts that kept it close, 19-20, and after Molina and Gonzaga traded hits with Aiza Pontillas, Cignal moved at match point on back-to-back Molina and Chin Basas’ hits.
The high-flying Sabete stalled the HD Spikers with a block touch hit in the ensuing play but the Angels blew what had appeared to be a basic play as Jellie Tempiatura fumbled trying to set up their counter-attack, leading to their last error and enabling the HD Spikers to clinch the win.
