PVL: Cignal fends off young Thai team for share of lead

Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL Invitational Conference.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Cignal faced a surprisingly tough challenge from Thailand’s EST Cola before prevailing, 25-23, 27-25, 25-12, for a share of the lead in the PVL Invitational Conference on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Coming off an easy win over Farm Fresh, Cignal had to dig deep in the first two sets against a determined EST Cola side. The HD Spikers scrambled late in both frames, especially in the second, where they had to overcome a set point and survive a tight exchange to seal the win.

The one-hour, 22-minute victory marked Cignal’s second straight triumph following its straight-set sweep of Farm Fresh last Friday. With momentum on their side, the HD Spikers are now primed for a crucial match against the Creamline Cool Smashers on Monday also at the Pasay venue.

READ: PVL: Unbothered by fatigue, Cignal sweeps Farm Fresh

Cignal squandered a commanding 2-0 set lead and ultimately fell to Creamline in a thrilling semifinal battle during the recently concluded Reinforced Conference ruled by the Cool Smashers.

In this brief nine-day tournament featuring five teams, every match is critical as the top two teams from the single-round elimination phase will battle for the championship.

“I’m very happy we pulled off this win. The first two sets were extremely tough, but our mindset was clear – we wanted to get it,” said MJ Perez. She and the rest of the HD Spikers battled through fatigue, still recovering from the demanding Reinforced Conference.

Perez finished with 28 points, including five kill blocks, while Ces Molina backed her up with 12 markers and Chin Basas, Gel Cayuna, Rosely Doria, Riri Meneses and Jacki Acuña combined for 24 points.

Perez and Molina also helped anchor the HD Spikers’ defense, with the former finishing with 12 excellent digs and nine receptions, and the latter posting six excellent digs and the same number of receptions.

Cayuna also shone with 19 excellent sets, outplaying counterpart Kanokporn Sangthong, who had 12 excellent sets.

READ: PVL: Cignal salvages Reinforced Conference bronze

Warisara Seetaloed topscored for EST Cola with 17 points, while Nattharika Wasan, Tanyaporn Seeso and Natthawan Phatthaisong finished with nine, seven and six markers, respectively.

EST Cola, which had lost its first two matches to the Ablaze and Cool Smashers in four and three sets, respectively, proved to be a formidable opponent for Cignal.

In the first set, the HD Spikers managed to break through at 23-all with a crucial block by Perez on Phatthaisong, followed by another key point from Perez to take the set.

The second frame mirrored the first. With another deadlock at 23, EST Cola briefly surged ahead with a kill from Wasan after a Cignal overpass.

However, Perez once again delivered for the HD Spikers, securing a set-extending kill. Cayuna then shoved Cignal to set point with a crafty two-handed push, only for Wasan to respond with a drop shot.

But a cross-court attack by Molina and a key block by Molina and Doria on Napatson Pumnin’s set-tying attempt gave Cignal a commanding 2-0 lead.

The third set saw Cignal’s momentum fully take over as EST Cola lost steam.

The HD Spikers quickly built a 12-4 lead and never looked back, pulling away to a 22-9 advantage. EST Cola’s errors in the closing stages sealed Cignal’s straight-set victory, with the Thais committing two final attack faults to end the match.