By NIKOLE JAVIER
Cignal needed an extra set to keep its semifinal bid alive as it outlasted F2 Logistics, 25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Saturday night, Nov. 19, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ces Molino showed the way for Cignal with a 20-point performance while Angeli Araneta added 15.
The HD Spikers shrugged off the Cargo Movers’ second-set comeback with gutsy plays in the third and fourth sets to hike their record to 4-3 for solo fourth while dropping the Cargo Movers to joint fifth at 3-4 with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
The Final Four cast, however, will only be determined on Tuesday where Cignal plays Choco Mucho while F2 Logistics takes on third semifinalist Petro Gazz.
A victory by the HD Spikers will complete the semis cast but a reversal coupled with the Cargo Movers win over the Angels would force a three-way tie for fourth.
Ties will be broken via points system.
Creamline and Chery Tiggo have already booked their spots in the semis.
“Well, talagang iyong mindset namin is mag-perform nang mabuti, maayos. Ang laban talaga walang bukas na hihintayin para another chance para lang sabihin namin na kaya pa namin. Ito talaga iyong opportunity na binigay sa amin na kailangan namin ma-grab,” said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos.
Cignal’s win negated Lindsay Stalzer’s 26-point performance.
Earlier, Petro Gazz officially gained entry to the semis with a 25-13, 25-12, 25-19 win over UAI-Army..
Save for the Lady Troopers’ brief resistance midway in the third set, it was all Angels show throughout as the 2019 champions overpowered the former with their crisp hits, superb blocking and superior all-around game.
