Mench Tubiera of Cignal over Domenique Pacres and Genie Sabas of Smart. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Cignal took the bronze medal after defeating Smart, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, in the 2018 Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference Thursday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Rachel Ann Daquis led the HD Spikers with 18 points in their third-place triumph while getting ample support from Mylene Paat and Cherry Vivas who had 15 and 13 points, respectively.
HD Spikers head coach Edgar Barroga said they got what they came for in the Invitational Conference and that is to get a spot in the top three.
“Actually we’re happy with what we got because this is actually the finish that we were expecting,” said Barroga in Filipino. “We just wanted to get to the top four since this lineup is still raw.”
Cignal played without Jovelyn Gonzaga, who was nursing an injury at the start of the conference and then got into military training as part of her tenure with the Philippine Army.
“I’m satisfied with how Rachel played and I expected her to go all out because this is the last game of the season for us,” added Barroga.
Joanne Bunag led the Giga Hitters with 10 points.