Cignal recoiled from a lackluster start coming off a 10-day break, dispatching Gerflor, 25-22, 25-11, 25-10, and collaring the fourth and last semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Wednesday, Dec. 6.
Gen Casugod came off the bench to fire nine points, matching top hitter Ces Molina’s output while Vanie Gandler scored eight points and Jovelyn Gonzaga added seven markers as the HD Spikers settled down to re-establish control in the last two sets after a wobbly stint in the opener that had the Defenders out-hitting them, 16-14.
But they regrouped and dished out the game expected of them at the resumption of the match, unloading 16 attack points while limiting their young rivals to just five spikes. The HD Spikers also pounced on the Defenders’ service reception struggles and scored four aces on their way to the lopsided 14-point win.
Coach Shaq delos Santos also took advantage of their huge lead to provide playing time for the bench players with Casugod responding and spearheading the HD Spikers’ relentless charge in the third, leading to the 70-minute romp that sent them to the Final Four with the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
They finished at 8-3 (win-loss), matching the Crossovers record but the HD Spikers took the No. 3 spot in the rankings due to higher tiebreak points.
The No. 1 Creamline will thus face No. 4 Chery Tiggo while Choco Mucho and Cignal tangle in a pair of best-of-three semis playoffs starting tomorrow (Thursday), also at the Philsports Arena.
