Coming off a heart-wrenching loss to Generika-Ayala last Saturday, Cignal refused to suffer another heartbreaker on Tuesday evening.
The HD Spikers displayed stellar net defense, holding off the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters in five sets, 25-23, 20-25, 16-25, 25-23, 15-9, in the 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conference at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
“Maganda yung blockings namin tsaka naging maganda rin yung naging depensa,” Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga said.
“Nag-work yung mga sinasabi namin sa kanila na kailangan humabol ng humabol kasi ang ganda ng height ng mga bata eh,” he added.
Cignal collected 27 points from blocks alone — the largest output above the net this conference so far. It also proved the biggest difference, as the Power Hitters only generated four points in the same department.
Janine Navarro tallied a game-high 23 points built on 18 attacks and five kill blocks to deliver her best performance as an HD Spiker.
Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga also fortified Cignal’s wall. The product of FEU contributed seven blocks en route to 21 points, while Gonzaga produced 19 points off 14 attacks and five blocks.
Mylene Paat missed the game due to a sore knee. Stepping up in her absence were middle blockers Ranya Musa and Roselyn Doria. The former had 11 points, while the latter supplied nine.
Alohi Robins-Hardy flirted with a double-double, notching 26 excellent sets to go along with eight markers.
Cignal rose to a 7-6 win-loss record at the fifth place.
Complementing their net defense, libero Jheck Dionela patrolled the floor with 21 digs and 12 excellent receptions. Gonzaga and Daquis both helped with 21 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, respectively.
Knotted at seven in the fifth set, Cignal mustered a 6-1 run to create crucial separation. Navarro then placed her team at match-point, before Gonzaga pummeled the clincher.
Meanwhile, the Power Hitters slid to a 4-8 slate at slot number six.
Aiko Urdas spearheaded her team’s charge with 16 points. Grethcel Soltones dispersed another triple-double with 15 points, 33 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions in a losing cause. PLDT skipper Jerrili Malabanan managed 14 markers.
Cignal will try to close out the preliminary round on a high note when they face the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Tuesday at the Malolos Sport and Convention Center. Then on Thursday, PLDT seek to return to the win column when they square off against the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers at the FilOil Arena.
