Vanie Gandler and the Cignal HD Spikers posted their fourth consecutive victory.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Cignal shrugged off a third set hiccup and clinched its fourth straight win in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference after a 25-15, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19 victory against slumping Petro Gazz on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Vanie Gandler’s pro career-high performance of 23 points built around 19 attacks, three blocks and an ace helped the HD Spikers improve to 5-2.
“We expected that our game against Petro Gazz would be difficult as they had solid senior players,” coach Shaq delos Santos said in Filipino. “We know that they can handle pressure well. Good thing the team delivered.”
“Their performance [in the third set] was not okay for me as well because we know that if they move well the result would have been good,’ he said.
Cignal also had Ces Molina contribute 17 points on 15 kills and Gel Cayuna nine points with three aces, 12 excellent digs and 14 excellent sets.
“Good thing in the fourth set, despite a slow start, our finish was strong and I am thankful that the team really wanted to win,” Delos Santos added.
Ces Molina.–PVL PHOTO
The HD Spikers managed to tie the game at 10-all after recovering from a 7-2 Petro Gazz start before the Angels eventually took the third frame.
Cignal got its composure back in the final set despite Petro Gazz gaining leads before the HD Spikers pulled away with Gandler nailing the match point.
“I told them that we need to be patient because Petro Gazz also has a lot of patience from attacks, defense, blockings. The eagerness of everyone to win was there so everyone followed,” Cayuna said.
The Angels have now lost three in a row after opening the conference at 4-0 despite drawing 16 points from Grethcel Soltones and 11 points apiece from Remy Palma and Jonah Sabete.
Petro Gazz is coming off a five-set loss to defending champion Creamline, 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13, on Thursday.
“Our goal, we know it will be difficult but it’s not impossible, to win the last remaining games. The flow of the game is not smooth or perfect but we are getting the results,” Delos Santos said. “It is not enough that if we win, that’s it. We can never be complacent.
“[Gandler, Molina and Cayuna’s] leadership really lifted us inside the court. We are working on that to be more solid inside the court because if they deliver, we will definitely have a better performance.”
Cignal meets F2 Logistics next on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.