Cignal-National tiff highlights start of semis

Cignal HD Spikers in the 2022 Spikers Turf. –PVL PHOTO

A second collision in three days between Cignal and National U-Sta. Elena takes place on Tuesday, but this one will have bigger stakes as the semifinal round of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference gets off the ground at Paco Arena on Thursday.

The HD Spikers carved out a 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 nonbearing win on Tuesday, and main Cignal gunner Marck Espejo believes this will serve them in good stead when the first serve is hit at 5:30 p.m.

“It was a big psychological win,” Espejo said after a 17-point performance that night against the country’s top collegiate team. “We were able to rid ourselves of the jitters of playing them. [Despite that win], we’re not going to relax.”

Cignal coach Dexter Clamor cited his team’s cohesion and the intangibles that his boys chipped in against National. He remains cautious of their foes, though.

“While the boys’ morale is high, we still have to study our lapses and the strength of the Nationals. Sure, they will make the necessary adjustments, so we need to be ready,” said Clamor.

Top-ranked Navy and VNS battle in the other game set to start at 2:30 p.m. as the tournament employs another round robin to determine the finalists.

The Navy Stallions defeated VNS in their only elimination round meeting which highlighted a four-game winning streak that gave it No. 1 ranking.