Cignal will enter the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals riding a seven-game winning streak after pouncing on PGJC Navy, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 to close its preliminaries schedule on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The HD Spikers finished with an 8-1 record with their lone loss coming against the Savouge Spin Doctors in five sets.
Cignal will face Criss Cross, FEU-DN Steel, and the team that will qualify among DLSU-EcoOil, Savouge, and PGJC Navy in the round-robin semis.
“Sabi ko sa team huddle, we need to end this elimination round with high morale and good momentum going to semifinals. Lahat naman ready,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung winning streak sa amin pero hindi kami magiging complacent going to semifinals… Tapos na ang elims, back to zero. We will work on what’s next,” added the champion coach.
Clamor went to his second-stringers in the third frame and that was when the HD Spikers even dominated more.
Alfred Valbuena, Mark Calado, Vince Abrot, and Nas Gwaza took charge in the third frame to complete the sweep in 84 minutes.
All this with Owa Retamar delivering his finest game so far, dishing 13 excellent sets with three points.
The Sealions ended their elims campaign at 5-4 and now hope that La Salle-EcoOil wins against Savouge later in the day. A victory by the Spin Doctors will give them the last available spot in the semis.
Calado ended up with 11 points in two sets, while Lloyd Josafat had 10 points on four spikes, three blocks, and three aces.
Joeven dela Vega paced PGJC Navy with 10 points, while Greg Dolor and Nilo Jasmin added nine and seven points, respectively.
