Cignal booted Army-Black Mamba out of Finals contention in a nail-biter, 26-24, 26-28, 25-18, 18-25, 16-14 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference semifinals, Saturday at the Ynares Arena in Antipolo.
The HD Spikers entered the win column in the semis at 1-1, while the Lady Troopers are still winless in three outings.
With Cignal at match point, Army put together three consecutive points to extend the fifth set, but Ces Molina hammered a spike before Joanne Bunag’s attempt went out for the HD Spikers win.
“Very thankful kami kasi medyo mabigat talaga ‘yung napagdaanan namin before magstart ‘yung semis. Alam naman natin lahat ‘yun hanggang sa naglaro nga kami ng seven players lang,” said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos.
The HD Spikers nabbed the first frame, 26-24, before Nene Bautista willed the Lady Troopers in the second, 28-26.
Knotted at 17 in the third period, Cignal closed it out on an 8-1 blitz, five coming off Army’s errors, for the 2-1 set advantage, 25-18.
But the Lady Troopers responded with a rout of their own, sending the match to a decider after a 25-18 fourth salvo.
Ria Meneses led the charge for the HD Spikers with 23 points on 21 attacks, while Molina chimed in 16 points on 13 spikes, two blocks, and a service ace.
Rachel Daquis added 15 points while Gel Cayuna had a masterful game of 39 excellent sets to go with her four points.
On the other end, Jovelyn Gonzaga paced Army with 21 points while Bunag chipped in 18 of her own.
Cignal will next face Taiwan’s King Whale on Monday, 2:30 pm while Army will have the Philippine National Women’s Volleyball Team the next day at 2:30 pm as well. Both games will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
