MJ Perez delivered another stellar performance, scoring 20 points, including 16 on attacks, with her final two clinching the team’s second shutout victory following their sweep of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans last July 28.
Cignal also notched a pair of four-set wins over ZUS Coffee and Capital1, underscoring their consistency and readiness to vie for the championship after finishing sixth in the recent All-Filipino Conference.
The HD Spikers aim to sweep the group against the surprisingly tough Akari Chargers, who have won two games via reverse sweep, on Tuesday.
But with the HD Spikers’ Venezuelan reinforcement delivering top-notch plays and the local players providing solid support, the Chargers will need more than just a charged-up crew, headed by Oly Okaro, and magical finishes to halt the HD Spikers’ rampage.
“I’m proud of my team, especially Perez, who went all-out in this game,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos. “The team put in an incredible effort. After three days of preparations, our game plan truly came to life.”
“Hopefully, this momentum continues. However, for us, it’s not enough to say we’re fully satisfied because the games are becoming increasingly challenging, so we need to prepare even more,” he added in Pilipino.
The Angels tried to counter Cignal's dominance by rallying from four-point deficits in the third set to tie at 22, led by Brooke Van Sickle’s superb game.
However, a crucial service error by Van Sickle gave Cignal the upper hand again, and Perez sealed the victory with her consistent performance.
Setter Gel Cayuna effectively distributed the ball, giving various attack options to her teammates, with Perez playing a pivotal role not just as a hitter but also as a team leader.
Perez later expressed her satisfaction with their performance, saying, “We all worked together as a team and stayed focused.”
Perez added three blocks, seven excellent digs, and seven receptions. While no local player scored in double digits, Jacqueline Acuña’s eight points, Ces Molina’s seven, and contributions from Roselyn Doria and Cayuna were sufficient to carry the HD Spikers to their one-hour, 38-minute triumph.
Cignal outplayed Petro Gazz in blocking, with eight blocks to their rival’s four, and capitalized on the Angels’ 21 unforced errors. The HD Spikers’ solid play patterns and offensive setups limited their miscues to just six points.
“Our coaches always remind us that every game is important and that we must give 100 percent each time,” said Acuña, who also finished with three blocks and earned the game’s top honors.
She emphasized the team’s chemistry, which is strengthened by their regular bonding off the court. “Simple lunches and dinners bring us closer to each other, making us a stronger team overall.”
Cayuna, who added five points and finished with eight excellent sets, shared her thoughts on their early success, “It's been a while since we’ve won consecutively, but we need to work even harder because the competition is still long.”
She added, “It’s rewarding but exhausting.”
Petro Gazz suffered its third straight defeat after sweeping ZUS Coffee, failing to recover from a straight-set upset by the Capital1 Solar Spikers and a two-set lead collapse against the Chargers.
Van Sickle exploded for 28 points, personally driving the third set but ultimately miscalculated a crucial serve that helped Cignal secure the decisive win.
Wilma Salas finished with 14 points, and Antonette Adolfo added seven markers for the Angels, who will face the Flying Titans on Tuesday.
