Cignal advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference after a thrilling five-set victory over Marina Tushova and seventh-ranked Capital1, 25-19, 36-34, 16-25, 22-25, 15-12, on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Tushova reset the league record for most points in a single game for the third time this conference with 50 points.
She also contributed 16 receptions and 12 digs. Tushova had previously set the record with 49 points on August 10 against Nxled.
Despite Tushova’s record-breaking performance, though, it was not enough to secure the win for her team.
(C) PVL Images
With this win, the HD Spikers have now racked up their fourth straight victory and will face the winner of the match between No. 3 Creamline and No. 6 Petro Gazz on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
In addition to advancing to the semifinals, Cignal has also qualified for the Invitational Conference, where the top four local teams will join two guest teams.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos expressed his pride in the team’s performance.
(C) PVL Images
“Lagi akong proud sa team kasi grabe lagi yung effort na ginagawa nila. Sa training pa lang, in-all out nila. Kapag pinush ko sila, talagang ina-acknowledge nila lahat ng kailangan gawin,” he said.
He felt relieved to end the intense knockout match with a win after two hours and 49 minutes, saying, “Yeah, ito, nagkaroon ng magandang result so sobrang thankful ako and happy.”
In the final set, MJ Perez’s kill from the pipe, followed by Riri Meneses’ monster block on Tushova, gave Cignal a 13-10 lead. However, Tushova responded with a through-the-block hit for her 50th point, and an error by Perez brought the score to 12-13.
Perez redeemed herself with a dropball before the decisive block of the match. Jackie Acuña met Tushova at the net, securing the final block that clinched the victory for Cignal.
Perez delivered 34 points along with 15 excellent receptions, while Meneses had her best game of the conference with 21 points, including 13 attacks, seven blocks, and an ace.
Ces Molina added 16 points and 14 receptions, and Acuña contributed eight points, none more crucial than her final kill block that decided the match.
Gel Cayuna provided 21 excellent sets and scored seven points of her own.
On the other hand, Jorelle Singh was the only other Solar Spiker in double figures with 12 points and 11 digs.
Des Clemente and Iris Tolenada each added seven points, with the latter also contributing 19 excellent sets.
