Cignal HD Spikers’ Ces Molina during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game against Chery Tiggo Crossovers. –PVL PHOTO
Cignal logged a second consecutive win in the PVL All-Filipino Conference with a 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21 victory against Chery Tiggo on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre.
“I’m happy because the team performed well. We know it’s not yet the ideal outcome we’re aiming for, but the good thing is we encountered that kind of situation, managed to recover, and survived,” said coach Shaq Delos Santos.
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Ces Molina, Vanie Gandler and Riri Meneses formed a three-headed prong to lift the HD Spikers past the Crossovers. Molina led Cignal with 13 points, while Gandler and Meneses punched in 12 points each.
Gel Cayuna made it happen by dishing out 20 excellent sets apart from nine points, five of which from the service line.
Dawn Macandili-Catindig did what she does best and caught 23 excellent digs as her new No. 2, Buding Duremdes, debuted against her former team.
“It took time before it happened, but maybe there’s a right time for everything. Thankfully, it finally pushed through, and we’re so happy she grabbed the opportunity to join Cignal,” said Delos Santos.
“Of course, I’m proud of my teammates because what we’ve worked hard for in training is paying off. We’re able to overcome the pressure, especially in tight endgame situations, and it’s translating well on the court. That’s what’s important—even when we make errors or have lapses, we recover quickly, and that’s something we’ve been practicing,” said Macandili-Catindig.
With the game on the line in the fourth set came a 20-all deadlock before a 5-1 run by Cignal for the clincher. Gandler nailed a cross-court kill and Abil delivered an ace. Seth Rodriguez still scored before back-to-back quick attacks by Meneses but Rodriguez committed an over reach to end the match.
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Ara Galang paced the Crossovers with 13 points, Cess Robles and Rodriguez contributed 12 points each but Chery Tiggo still absorbed a first loss in two games. Mary Rhose Dapol also had 10 points.
Chery looks to bounce back versus Nxled on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena while Cignal guns for a third consecutive win against Choco Mucho, which is playing Capital1 as of posting, on Thursday in the same Pasig City venue.