Ces Molina leads Cignal anew. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Cignal dug deep from two sets down to escape Choco Mucho, 24-26, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-11, and take an early 2-0 lead in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday at San Juan Arena.
Ces Molina once again showed the way for the HD Spikers with 17 points and 26 excellent receptions, while Glaudine Troncoso proved to be a revelation with 13 points as they overcame Kat Tolentino’s 31-point explosion in a grueling two-hour and 31-minute match.
Cignal crawled back from a 0-2 deficit including a disheartening first set meltdown, where they led 24-19 but allowed the Flying Titans to score seven straight points.
Holding a strong momentum from their huge victories in the third and fourth sets, Cignal had a 4-1 start in the decider before Des Cheng sparked Choco Mucho to steal the lead, 6-5, with a block on Molina.
The HD Spikers pulled away after Tolentino blocked Rachel Anne Daquis, 11-10, then back-to-back attacks from Roselyn Doria and Daquis including an error from Tolentino brought Cignal at match point, 14-10
Cheng saved a point for Choco Mucho. But Isa Molde committed a crucial attack error that kept Cignal unbeaten early.
“My players showed a lot of composure. Even they are tired, they fought until the end. I’m proud of them,” said the HD Spikers coach Shaq Delos Santos in Filipino, returning from a vacation in Dubai.
“(When we lost the first two sets), I told them that the game is not yet over. We took the opportunity to bounce back by focusing on every point.”
Cignal setter Gel Cayuna. –PVL PHOTO
Setter Gel Cayuna also shone for Cignal dishing out 32 excellent sets and nailed a team-high four blocks to finish with seven points. Ria Meneses and Rose Doria contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively. Daquis added 10 markers and 18 digs.
Tolentino carried the load of Choco Mucho with 25 attacks, four blocks, and two aces. Cheng and Molde chipped in 14 points each, while Denden Lazaro-Revilla had an impressive defensive effort with 26 digs and 20 excellent receptions.
The Flying Titans gave up 36 errors in absorbing their first loss in two matches.
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