Cignal cruised past Choco Mucho, securing a 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 victory for a strong start in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.
The HD Spikers didn’t miss their national team players Vanie Gandler and Dawn Catindig, with Venezuelan import MJ Perez and newly-acquired Judith Abil filling their roles perfectly for a 1-0 start in Pool B.
Abil, a natural wing spiker who joined the league’s combine for free agents just last month, shone brightly for Cignal as a libero with 15 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Perez scored 22 points with 19 spikes and two aces, adding eight receptions.
“Kitang-kita naman sa mukha namin kung gaano kami kahappy. I think lumabas lang talaga lahat ng effort na ginawa namin sa training, yung hard work talaga,” said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos after the win in one hour and 44 minutes.
“I’m so proud sa team namin kasi talagang inall out nila yung game and inangat talaga nila yung level ng game namin,” he added.
Dindin Manabat carried the Flying Titans with three straight points to tie the second set at 21, but Chin Basas, Perez, and Rose Doria scored four straight for a 2-0 Cignal lead.
In the subsequent set, it was all HD Spikers as Perez continued to dominate, leading by as much as 10 points (20-10) to secure the dominant victory.
Basas and Ces Molina contributed eight points each, while Gel Cayuna provided 15 excellent sets and seven points for Cignal.
Superstars Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag were sorely missed by Choco Mucho, which struggled to finish sets effectively.
(C) PVL Images
Greek import Zoi Faki led the Flying Titans with 13 points, 10 receptions, and eight digs.
Manabat added eight points in the losing effort.
Cignal aims to build on this win against ZUS Coffee on Tuesday at 2 p.m., while Choco Mucho seeks to rebound against Akari at 4 p.m.
