Marck Espejo leads Cignal HD Spikers to Spikers’ Turf title. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Cignal came back roaring and stunned Go for Gold-Air Force, 26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-7, to claim the Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference championship Sunday at Paco Arena.
Marck Espejo, who was named the Finals MVP, put up 28 points for the HD Spikers while Jude Garcia added 19 points in support.
The HD Spikers, who beat the erstwhile champions in Game 1 19-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-21 last Friday, built a 6-2 lead to start the fifth set and that was enough lead for them to close out the match.
“I just told them that whatever happens even if the opponent gets the lead, the only thing we will do is create history,” said HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor in Filipino. “We’ll create history and we will win no matter what happens.”
Bryan Bagunas led the Jet Spikers with 25 points while Ranran Abdilla, the conference MVP, added 17 points.
This is Cignal’s fourth title in the league and the fourth for Clamor.
Apart from the conference MVP, Abdilla was also named the 1st Best Open Spiker while Espejo took home the 2nd Best Open Spiker honor.
Bernashidin Daymil of Sta. Elena-National University took the 1st Best Middle Blocker plum while Air Force’s Kim Malabunga was the 2nd Best Middle Blocker.
PLDT’s John Vic De Guzman was the Best Opposite Spiker while Cignal’s Vince Mangulabnan was the Best Setter.