PVL: Cignal claims semis berth, ousts Sisi Rondina-led Choco Mucho

Cignal’s Rachel Daquis and Roselyn Doria celebrate during a game against Choco Mucho. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis picked the right time to unleash their best game as a tandem to bring back Cignal to the semifinals after eliminating the Sisi Rondina-led Choco Mucho, 25-15, 25-21, 25-21, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.

Gonzaga dropped 13 points, eight digs, and four excellent receptions, while her best friend Daquis provided a solid backup with 12 points to claim the last semifinal ticket from Pool B, winning three straight games to end the first round.

Army sergeant Gonzaga, who found her way home to the HD Spikers after her mother club opted to skip the tournament, was honored to help Cignal return to the semis after missing the Final Four last All-Filipino Conference.

“It feels great because we are achieving our goal, one step at a time. I’m thankful for my new journey with Cignal,” said Gonzaga in Filipino. “I really struggled in training since I returned. Our coaching staff stayed patient with me. Their trust helped me to play my heart out and give back to them.”

Daquis commended Gonzaga’s return and the help of her teammates as Rose Doria led Cignal’s blocking, providing three of their 12 rejections to finish with 10 points as many as Ces Molina’s point production.

“I want to credit Jov, my teammates, and coach Shaq [Delos Santos],” said the Cignal skipper.

The HD Spikers, which will carry over a 0-1 record heading to the semis round due to their first-round loss to the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, will play in another round-robin against the Japanese squad Kurashiki Ablaze and Vietnam’s Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh as well as the defending champion and Pool A sweeper Creamline (1-0) and the winner between PLDT-Chery Tiggo match on Tuesday evening.

The HD Spikers dominated the Flying Titans in the first set and carried the momentum into the second with an 8-0 start before the latter kept them within striking distance until 20-19 off Cherry Nunag’s attack.

Daquis scored three of Cignal’s last four points in the frame to take a 2-0 lead before unleashing a 5-0 start in the third but Choco Mucho stole the momentum with a 13-10 advantage.

Cignal drew timely hits from substitute spiker Chinchin Basas for a 19-16 breather. Ces Molina and Ria Meneses widened the gap to reach match point, 24-19, before Choco Mucho saved two points including Nunag’s block but Rondina committed a costly service error as her team missed the semis for the fourth straight time.

Rondina was the lone bright spot for Choco Much with 14 points but struggled with an 11-of-40 attacking clip only to finish third in Pool B with a 3-2 record.

The Flying Titans will take on Chery Tiggo in the battle for seventh on Saturday.

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