After a rough 2017 Chooks-to-Go Philippine Superliga Grand Prix elimination round campaign, the Cignal HD Spikers still salvaged the fourth seed after trouncing the Victoria Sports-University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, 26-24, 25-16, 25-14, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The HD Spikers, who played without National Team staples Rachel Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga due to separate injuries, settled their elimination round record at 4-4. They take on the Cocolife Asset Managers, a team that beat them in disheartening fashion, in the knockout quarterfinals.
Cignal head coach George Pascua was proud with they way his team powered through their last games to strengthen their hold on a top four spot.
“Talagang minalas kami sa injuries. Hindi namim makokontrol ‘yun. Ang sabi ko sa kanila, pagbutihan natin sa mga bagay na hawak natin like effort and execution sa loob ng court. Nagawa naman nila,” said the former FEU Tamaraw.
Import Alexis Matthews topped the HD Spikers with a whooping 19 points, a season-high while Honey Royse Tubino provided eight markers.
Cignal was shaky to start the match, falling behind early, 14-1, against their collegiate foes. Matthews, however, imposed her will in the middle and opened the door for Mylene Paat and Chie Saet to close the opening set with a 6-4 flourish.
UST had no answers after the first set. Third year open hitter Carla Sandoval topped the Tigressed with 10 points while Didim Pacres added nine.
The Tigresses went winless in eight matches in their first campaign in tge PSL.
The Scores
Cignal HD (3) – Matthews 19, Tubino 8, Marciano 5, Morada 5, Paat 4, Saet 4, Mercado 4, Carey 3, Vivas 2, Miyashita (L), Dionela (L)
Victoria Sports-UST (0) – Sandoval 10, Pacres 9, Inamasu 7, Palec 5, Bicar 4, Francisco 2, Teope 0, Delos Reyes 0, Rivera (L), Agno (L)
