The Cignal HD Spikers recovered from two sets to none deficit to trounce the Sta.Elena Wrecking Balls 23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-20, 16-9, and notch their second victory in the Spikers Turf Season One Reinforced Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena, Saturday afternoon.
Tied at 22 in the first set, Alnasip Laja and Nestor Molate scored two straight points to bring the Wrecking Balls at set point, 24-22, but a two touches violation call against the Wrecking Balls enabled the HD Spikers to cut the lead at 24-23. However, Ace Mandani blocked Alexis Faytaren to give the Wrecking Balls a hard fought first set victory.
Falling behind 16-14 at the second set, the HD Spikers relied on Faytaren,Lorenzo Capate and Red Christensen to bring the set to a deadlock at 18. Antonio and Molate pitched in as well, helping the Wrecking Balls avoid an HD Spikers comeback.
The HD Spikers once again found themselves trailing, 12-8 in the third set, before Capate and Edward Ybanez’s combined efforts gave Cignal a 16-10 lead in the second technical timeout. Faytaren and Edmar Bonono continued Cignal’s offensive barrage as the Wrecking Balls struggled to respond against the HD Spikers.
The comeback continued for the HD Spikers in the fourth set as Cignal established a 22-17 lead. The Wrecking Balls continued to struggle for a response to the offense from the HD Spikers.
In the deciding set the HD Spikers quickly established a 6-1 from a collabaration of Ybanez ,Capate and Herschel Ramos as the Wrecking Balls were unable to weather the HD Spikers offensive mayhem.
“We just enjoy the game, no pressure at all,” said Cignal Assistant coach Sammy Acaylar, who took over from Michael Carino due to other commitments.
Capate scored 13 points to lead the HD Spikers while Ybanez,Bonono and Faytaren chipped 12 markers each.
Molate unloaded 19 points for the Wrecking Balls with Laja contributing 18 points.
The HD Spikers(2-1) will next face the IEM Volley Master(0-1) on November 4 at 5:00 PM while the Wrecking Balls(1-2) next assignment is against the Philippine Air Force Airmen(2-0) at 1:00 PM in the same day at the same venue.
The Scores:
Cignal (3) – Capate 13, Ybanez 12, Faytaren 12, Bonono 12, Ramos 8, Lee 3, Christensen 2, Relata 2, Lansangan 2, Diezmo 0, Dela
Cruz(L), Montero(L)
Sta.Elena (2) – Molate 19, Laja 17, Antonio 13, Mandani 10, Honrade 9, Macalma 2, Lozada 2, Abdulwahab 0, Arbasto 0, Hu(L)
