MIKE Abria couldn’t have chosen a better evening to unleash his A-game.
Playing before his hometown crowd, Abria scored 11 points, including crucial slams in the fourth set that lifted Cignal HD to a 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23 victory over Systema last night in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference in Cebu City.
The University of Visayas hotshot prevailed in a power against power duel with Systema’s resident bomber John Depante in the decisive set to secure the HD Spikers’ fourth win in six game and solo second place behind unbeaten PLDT-Air Force.
“He (Abria) played an extraordinary game,” said Cignal coach Mike Carino. “He really wanted to give his fellow Cebuanos something to cheer about. He came from this place and it meant a lot to him.”
Cignal actually started slow and was visibly shocked by Systema’s show of force in the opening set of the game held at University of San Carlos Gym.
But with Howard Mojica, Edmar Sanchez, Jay Dela Cruz and Abria stepping up, the HD Spikers soon found their rhythm.
Mojica topscored with 18 points including 15 kills, while Sanchez and Dela Cruz added 12 and 10, respectively.
“This is an important win for us,” admitted Carino. “That’s why I told the boys to do their best to get a win. Systema is our main rival for second spot.”
But Systema fought hard behind the hard-hitting Depante, who accounted for 16 points, 12 on kills. Marc Anthony Reyes