Cignal weathered Jolina Dela Cruz’s career-best performance to overcome F2 Logistics, 25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 26-24, in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference, Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The HD Spikers had to dig deep to survive the Dela Cruz-led Cargo Movers in two consecutive extended sets en route to their fifth-straight victory which put them at solo fourth with a 6-2 win-loss record.
“Actually, sobrang happy kasi grabe yung binigay nilang effort sa game na yun and to be honest, yung score na 24-21 sabi ko maniwala lang maipapanalo natin tong game na to tiyagain lang natin,” said Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos.
“Ayun naibigay sa amin yung panalo. Sobrang happy and grabe grabe ginusto ng mga players manalo,” the former national team head coach added.
With the Cargo Movers threatening to send the game to a fifth set, Jovelyn Gonzaga stepped up and shattered the 22-all count with a down the line hit before Myla Pablo’s attack error placed the HD Spikers at match point.
F2 Logistics, though, did not go down just yet as Ivy Lacsina blocked Ces Molina while Pablo atoned for her mistake and nailed an offspeed attack afterwards to force a deuce.
That, however, proved to be it for the Cargo Movers as Gonzaga once again came through with a cross-court attack before Ces Molina ended the match off a powerful combination attack.
“Hopefully, ‘wag kami masa-satisfy sa nakukuha namin kasi alam namin yang pagdadaanan pa namin marami pa, may last three games pa kaming natitira na paghihirapan namin talaga, paghahandaan,” added Delos Santos.
Molina dropped 22 points to go along with seven excellent receptions to lead Cignal while Gonzaga finished with 15 points, including four blocks, to go along with 11 excellent digs in the victory.
Vanie Gandler continued her consistent play with 13 markers and 10 excellent digs while middle blockers Rose Doria and Riri Meneses chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Gel Cayuna tossed 22 excellent sets to go along with four markers while Gelai Nunag collected 15 excellent receptions.
On the other hand, the Cargo Movers, who were coming off a tough loss to defending champion Creamline, dropped to 4-4 – good for the seventh spot.
Dela Cruz reset her career-high and dropped 30 points on 28 attacks, one ace, and one block to go along with seven excellent receptions in a losing cause while Ara Galang added 17 points, 15 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs.
Cignal will go up against Chery Tiggo on Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig while F2 Logistics will take on Choco Mucho later that day at 6:00 p.m.
