PVL: Cignal stuns defending champion Chery Tiggo

Cignal HD Spikers in their first game in the 2022 PVL Open Conference. PVL MEDIA BUREAU

MANILA, Philippines–Cignal displayed its full build-up that was tough enough to demolish defending champion Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, Wednesday night and send across a chilling message to the rest of the teams in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.

Rachel Anne Daquis clicked with new recruits Ces Molina and Angeli Araneta under a brand new system by former national team coach Shaq Delos Santos to emerge victorious after two hours of non-stop back-and-forth at Paco Arena in Manila.

Daquis, the 34-year-old holdover from the old HD Spikers roster, also managed to control Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat down the stretch to make sure there was not late uprising from the Crossovers.

Paat and Dindin Manabat, who both played as imports in the Thailand V League, did everything they could in the minutes they were on the floor. But ball distribution just failed to maximise their combined power.

The Crossovers, who won the league’s inaugural professional conference, also missed the service of Jaja Santiago who is now playing as foreign reinforcement in the Japan V.League.