PVL: Cignal’s Graze Bombita suffers ACL tear

FILE–Cignal HD Spiker Graze Bombita with her former team. PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Graze Bombita will miss Cignal’s first semifinals appearance in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference and the remainder of 2022 season after she was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear on her left knee.

Cignal announced that Bombita suffered a season-ending injury in a statement on Monday, hours after clinching its semis berth with a 25-14, 25-9, 25-14 rout over BaliPure at San Juan Arena.

“Graze Bombita has suffered an ACL tear on her left knee and will be out for the remainder of the 2022 PVL Open Conference,” the team wrote. “Awesome Nation is praying for her speedy recovery and we can’t wait to see her back in action soon.”

Thank you po, Cignal Fam 🙏❤ https://t.co/mcwoMzN6a9

— 𝓑𝓸𝓶𝓫𝓲𝓽a 𝓑.𝓖𝓻𝓪𝔃𝓮 (@bombitagraze) March 28, 2022

The 30-year-old spiker, who signed with the HD Spikers last year, was stretchered after she sustained the injury from the warm-up of Cignal’s first match against Chery Tiggo last March 16.

Bombita shared Cignal’s statement on Facebook, thanking all her well-wishers.

Despite her absence, Cignal swept all of its four pool stage games and didn’t waste its twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals after routing BaliPure as Rachel Anne Daquis, Ces Molina and Angeli Araneta formed a potent combo to carry the cudgels of their team.

Cignal will face the winner of the twice-to-beat Petro Gazz and F2 Logistics’ quarterfinals duel on Tuesday in a best-of-three semis series.