Cignal kicked off its challenging four-game schedule in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational 2024 with a commanding 25-16, 25-10, 25-18 sweep of Farm Fresh at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Friday.
Eager to improve upon their bronze medal finish from the recently concluded Reinforced Conference, the HD Spikers wasted no time asserting their dominance, cruising through the first two sets before weathering a stronger effort from the Foxies in the third.
Cignal’s composure and experience shone through in the decisive set. Trailing 8-10, the HD Spikers responded with a 5-0 run to wrest the lead. Although Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu briefly halted the surge with a down-the-line hit, Cignal countered, outscoring its rival, 12-7, to close out the match in one hour and 13 minutes.
MJ Perez was pivotal in the HD Spikers' late rally, contributing four of their last eight points, including consecutive drop balls following Caitlyn Viray’s attacking errors.
Cignal pulled away at 21-15 before Viray answered with her own drop shot. However, Cignal’s setter Gel Cayuna, after her feeds to Perez were foiled twice, opted for Chin Basas, who delivered a powerful cross-court hit to further firm up their lead.
Viray responded with another kill, but Perez countered with a blistering attack. Geneveve Casugod then came off the bench to score, pushing Cignal closer to victory.
Farm Fresh managed to save one match point after Perez’s service error, but Cayuna set up Ces Molina for the final blow – a thunderous spike that sealed Farm Fresh’s second consecutive defeat in the five-team tournament.
“The key was our energy, parang gusto naming na tapusin agad,” said Cayuna, who claimed the best player of the game honors after recording 13 excellent sets and six points.
Looking ahead of their demanding schedule, Cayuna highlighted the importance of both physical and mental preparation.
“We need to be ready, not just physically but mentally as well. Kasi nakakapagod ang schedule namin,” said the Reinforced Conference best setter.
Cignal’s next test comes against winless EST Cola tomorrow (Sunday), followed by a high-stakes clash with powerhouse Creamline on Monday. After a brief respite on Tuesday, the HD Spikers will face the defending champions Kurashiki Ablaze on Wednesday, with hopes of sweeping all their matches to secure a spot in the championship game.
The final is set for Sept. 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Perez topscored for Cignal with 16 points, while Molina and Jackie Acuña matched 11-point outputs and Basas added eight markers.
Asaka Tamaru scored nine points while Tubu and Viray finished with six and four points, respectively, for the Foxies, who will next tangle with the EST Cola side on Monday in a clash of winless squads.
