PVL: Galeries Tower stuns Cignal to advance to quarterfinals
Galeries Tower Highrisers reacts after scoring a point against Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Galeries Tower barged into the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals after a 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19 upset of third seed Cignal on Thursday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
This is the first time that the Highrisers, who were playing with a sorry 1-11 card as the tenth-ranked team from the preliminary round, reached the playoff stage and they did just that in the most terrific way with a shutdown of the HD Spikers.
“It’s a milestone for us—for the team, the players, and the coaches. I’m just really grateful,” coach Lerma Giron said. “Since Day 1, I’ve had full trust in the players I brought in and in what we have, even though we don’t have big names or volleyball stars.”
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round
The duo of Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo played huge roles in the triumph by coming up with 23 and 20 points, respectively. Jewel Encarnacion was also productive with 11 points as Fen Emnas tossed 14 excellent sets aside from 10 excellent digs.
“Of course, I’m really happy because all the hard work paid off. We went through so much, but we always held on to the belief that everything happens for a reason—and this is it,” Jimenez said.
Galeries Tower High Risers’ Ysa Jimenez. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Ronquillo and Encarnacion also had 13 excellent receptions as captain and libero Alyssa Eroa saved her team with 28 excellent digs.
“My motivation for this game was my past performances because I felt like I wasn’t playing at my best. I wanted to bounce back for my teammates and prove that I won’t let them down,” Ronquillo said.
LIVE: PVL All-Filipino Conference – Qualifying Round February 27
Galeries Tower surprised many by immediately stunning one of the leagues’ top contenders after immediately taking a 2-0 set lead.
Cignal still managed to take the third frame but that was all that the HD Spikers could come up with as the Highrisers regained their footing.
Already playing with a depleted roster, Cignal lost another cog in the third frame in Jov Fernandez after hurting her neck after colliding with a teammate.
After a deadlock at nine all, the Highrisers left their opponent in the dust with a 6-0 run. They had another run to further pull away at 22-15 before Cignal somehow showed signs of life to cut the lead to just four.
Andrea Marzan scored off a quick hit before Ronquillo landed a cross-court hit as the rest of the Highrisers rejoiced.
They await the winner between the pairing of Farm Fresh and Akari for their matchup in the quarterfinals that starts March 15. Meanwhile, Cignal was relegated to the play-in tournament that starts after the qualifying round.
