Cigna HD Spikers’ Ces Molina. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ces Molina lifted the shorthanded Cignal past sister team PLDT, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, to jumpstart its 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference bid on a high note on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Missing veteran spikers Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga, new team captain Molina took matters into her own hands as she dropped 20 points all from attacks on top of 11 digs and five excellent receptions.
“I’m not gonna lie but my mindset today was we can’t lose this first game because it’s an opportunity for us to build momentum,” said Molina in Filipino. “It’s a team effort and I’m very proud of my teammates because they stepped up and filled in the spots of our missing players.”
The reigning Invitational Conference Most Valuable Player also nailed the finishing touches in the last two sets as she capped Cignal’s comeback from a 20-21 deficit in the third, scoring a pair of spikes to cap their 5-0 run and regain the match lead, two sets to one.
The HD Spikers blew a 20-14 lead in the fourth set after back-to-back errors from Molina and Vanie Gandler allowing the High Speed Hitters to cut it down to one, 20-19. But Ria Meneses’ ace and a spike from setter Gel Cayuna brought back the momentum on their side before Molina dropped two consecutive clutch hits to end the game.
Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos said Gonzaga and libero Angela Nunag are still fixing their papers with Army as they didn’t get a clearance from the military. Daquis is in a coaching camp in the United States and her return is still uncertain.
Gandler stepped up for Cignal with 12 points on 11 attacks. Chinchin Basas also scored 12 and had four receptions. Cayuna dished out 13 excellent sets on top of four points, as libero Bia General protected the floor with 33 digs and 15 receptions.
PLDT’s new recruit Savannah Davison was good as advertised with 17 points and 11 digs only for Cignal to spoil her PVL debut. Erika Santos shone as a starter with 11 points, while Royse Tubino provided the spark off the bench with 10 markers.
Cignal guns for its second win against defending champion Creamline on Saturday next week in Batangas, while PLDT takes on Akari on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.