Having started the season with two quick wins, the Cignal HD Spikers ground out a frantic five-set win over the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, 25-18, 26-28, 25-23, 25-23, 15-9, to remain on top of Group B in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup at the Cadiz Arena in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Cignal HD took full advantage of Sta. Lucia’s early lull. With veteran Rachel Daquis sparking their offense through her serving and attacking, the HD Spikers raced to a decisive 16-7 lead in the first set. The Lady Realtors eventually stabilized their reception through several lineup tweaks, but failed to break through Cignal’s sizable advantage.
With a fresh batch of starters in the second set, Sta. Lucia gained an early edge. The Lady Realtors turned quick defensive plays into points and an 8-4 gap. Cignal chipped away at the lead, eventually gaining a 16-15 lead after a hit from Shirley Salamagos. The tight set dragged into the late stages of the frame with service errors haunting both sides. Figuring in a long deuce, the Lady Realtors escaped, as Pam Lastimosa powered in the set’s last two points.
The HD Spikers almost suffered a disastrous collapse in the pivotal third set. Daquis stifled Sta. Lucia with patented serve, sparking the HD Spikers’ run to a 21-12 cushion. Sta. Lucia countered with their own spell of solid serves. Setter Rubie De Leon found gaps in the Cignal reception, resulting in free balls that anchored Sta. Lucia’s sprint to cut the deficit down to one, 23-22. With Cignal clinging to a 24-23 advantage, the final point came down to a long rally which culminated in a block from Cignal’s Janine Navarro.
The Lady Realtors furiously rattled off a fourth-set push. With Cignal falling silent on offense, Sta. Lucia waltzed to a 19-9 lead. Daquis threatened to ignite another late comeback, serving Cignal to within five, 22-17. But Lastimosa pounded in three straight points to force a decider.
Cignal took control in the final set and never looked back. Sta. Lucia opened the fifth frame with a generous hand for errors, propelling the HD Spikers to an 8-4 lead. The Lady Realtors tried to rally back, but quickly lost steam. Three consecutive Sta. Lucia attack errors gave the HD Spikers an insurmountable 12-7 lead.
Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga relished their their straight win, but was alarmed with his team’s up-and-down play.
“Medyo hindi kasi consistent ‘yung temperature nang nilaro namin kanina; biglang mainit, biglang malamig,” said Barroga.
“Maganda talaga ‘yung naging execution namin noong fifth set. Kinailangan talaga namin ‘yun kasi papabor sa amin na ganito ang record namin para makapasok sa semis,” he added.
Daquis finished with a team-high 19 points off 12 attacks, three blocks, and four aces. Salamagos added 14 markers to pace four HD Spikers in double-digits.
MJ Phillips managed 23 points built on 18 attacks, four blocks, and an ace. Lastimosa tallied 12 markers.
Cignal (3-0) take on the Philippine Women’s National Team in an exhibition match next Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome. Sta. Lucia (1-2) face the Cherrylume-University of the East Lady Warriors (0-2) on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
