Cignal dethrones Petron to forge PSL Finals date with F2 Logistics

On Thursday evening, for the first time in franchise history, the Cignal HD Spikers entered the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Finals.

For the first time in franchise history, the Cignal HD Spikers entered the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Finals on Thursday evening.

The HD Spikers completed a series sweep of the Petron Blaze Spikers, unseating the defending champions, 30-28, 25-21, 17-25, 23-25, 15-8, in Game Two of the 2019 PSL All-Filipino semifinals at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

“Sobrang pinagaralan namin sila. Alam namin nasa amin ang momentum, nasa Petron ang pressure pero hanggang sa huli lumaban sila,” Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga said. “So, kudos to Petron. Bilib ako sa kanila sobra lang nagtrabaho yung mga players namin.”

Following a five-set, come-from-behind shocker in Game One that erased the twice-to-beat incentive of Petron, the HD Spikers seized command early in the do-or-die bout only to see a late surge from the Blaze Spikers.

Though the Blaze Spikers were poised to hand Cignal a dose of its own medicine with a comeback of their own, the HD Spikers had enough energy to outlast the former in a battle of attrition.

Knotted at four in the final chapter of an epic series, the HD Spikers yet again relied on their vaunted wall to spell the difference after Roselyn Doria and Alohi Robins-Hardy roofed Sisi Rondina.

From there, the duo of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Daquis weaved their magic anew, mustering a blistering 7-0 run that pushed the mighty Petron down spiraling.

Cignal skipper Daquis topped the charts with 22 points built on 18 attacks and laced with 12 excellent receptions to post a double-double performance.

Gonzaga complimented her long-time partner with a double-double of her own. The product of Central Philippine University dropped 17 points — off 15 attacks and two blocks — to go along with 21 excellent digs in her third straight five-setter within a span of three games.

Ranya Musa supplied 12 markers while Janine Navarro chipped 10 markers. Both of them had four blocks each with the former adding two aces.

Jheck Dionela manned the floor with 30 excellent digs and 21 excellent receptions.

Meanwhile, Robins-Hardy orchestrated the offense for Cignal to the tune of 32 excellent sets on top of seven points, which included two aces.

In terms of attacks, the HD Spikers only had 63 to the Blaze Spikers’ 73. But they made up for it in the blocking and service departments, netting 15 blocks and seven aces to the latter’s 10 and five, respectively.

Rondina, who steadied Petron’s ship in the third and fourth sets, fired 20 points on a losing effort. The former Golden Tigress also had 16 excellent digs to her name.

Ces Molina had a scintillating offensive display as well that, unfortunately, went down the drain. She supplemented 17 attacks and an ace for 19 points.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas flirted with a triple-double as she notched 15 markers – spiked by three blocks – 17 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.

Mika Reyes unloaded 11 points while Bernadeth Pons managed eight. Rhea Dimaculangan tossed 27 excellent sets for Petron Blaze Spikers, who failed to barge into the All-Filipino Finals since 2016.

The HD Spikers will now set their sights on the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the Game One of the PSL Finals on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Meanwhile, Petron will look to salvage bronze against the Foton Tornadoes earlier in the day.