Second-seeds Cignal HD Spikers had to scramble in their match leading up to the all-important Philippine Superliga All-Filipino conference quarterfinals. In the end, the 2017 Invitational Cup champions were too much for the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in their four-set encounter, 19-25, 30-28, 25-22, 25-16, at the Star Arena in Baliwag, Bulacan.
Cignal have routinely dropped the opening set of most of their matches throughout the conference. Against a fiery Generika side, the HD Spikers again found a way past an early setback.
Leading the second set, 22-20, the HD Spikers saw Generika crawl all the way back and force a deuce. The Lifesavers, however, surrendered costly service errors each time they had a chance at taking a 2-0 set lead. In the end, a solid serving sequence from Maica Morada keyed Cignal’s finishing flourish to knot the match at a set apiece.
“Crucial talaga na nakuha namin ‘yung second set kasi nakatulong sa morale ng team. Mas nakapag-focus kami after noon,” remarked Cignal head coach George Pascua.
The HD Spikers found their form in the third set, landing three aces and thumping two block kills in the set to stifle Generika’s late rally. By the fourth set, the Lifesavers had lost all momentum as their lineup shuffling failed to rejuvenate their stale attack and reception.
“Kailangan talaga namin maka-start strong sa mga susunod na laban. Pero maganda pa rin ‘yung pinakita ng team noong nagkagipitan kami. Sana ma-sustain namin ‘yung ganitong energy,” added Pascua.
Royse Tubino and Cherry Vivas each tacked on 13 points for Cignal, while Jovelyn Gonzaga added 10 markers.
The HD Spikers move to the quarterfinals, where they will face the seventh seeds Cocolife Asset Managers on Thursday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Losers of three straight, Generika-Ayala had Bacolod-native Fiolla Ceballos fire in 13 points. The Lifesavers take on the red-hot F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, also on Thursday.
The Scores
Cignal (3) – Tubino 13, Vivas 13, Daquis 11, Gonzaga 10, Paat 4, Mercado 3, Morada 3, Saet 3, Carlos 0, Macatuno 0, Marciano 0, Dionela (L), Torres (L)
Generika-Ayala (1) – Ceballos 13, Adorador 8, Araneta 8, Casugod 7, Cortez 6, Cerveza 4, Orendain 3, Buitre 2, Lopez 1, Masangkay 1, Legacion 0, Arado (L)
