Cignal claimed the first Final ticket in the inaugural Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference after trouncing Perpetual-Kinto Tyres in straight sets, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19, Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The HD Spikers now carry a spotless 3-0 record in the semifinals, all via sweeps, making all the other four teams unable to reach them at the top regardless of the result of their game against Saints and Lattes-Letran tomorrow at the same venue at 9 a.m.
This was Cignal’s eighth-straight win this conference and its 23rd consecutive overall after completing a 15-0 sweep of the Open Conference last March.
“Maganda yung inensayo namin kahapon, maganda yung preparation namin kaya hindi kami nagrelax. It’s all about preparation,” said HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor.
Perpetual’s best chance of snagging a set came in the second period where it was leading up until the halfway mark before Peter Torres pushed Cignal back into the game.
Tied at 23, Altas main man Louie Ramirez committed a very costly service error before Jau Umandal threw a soft hit for the HD Spikers 2-0 set lead.
Wendel Miguel spearheaded Cignal with 15 points and 12 excellent receptions while Umandal added 13 points and five digs.
Torres chipped in 10 points while Manuel Sumanguid had 15 receptions and 12 digs as HD Spikers also limited their errors to just 12.
The Altas skidded to 0-3 in the round-robin semis to bow out of Finals contention. They still have a chance to contend for the bronze medal.
Perpetual will cap the semis tomorrow at 11 a.m. against Japanese guest team Maruichi.
Ramirez, who played for Cignal during the 2022 Open, paced the Altas with 16 points and 26 excellent receptions, while Jefferson Marapoc delivered 11 points.
