PVL: Cignal joins league leaders after beating Nxled

Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Cignal listed itself among the top teams in the PVL All-Filipino Conference after escaping a late-game resistance by Nxled, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21, on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.

The HD Spikers are now in a three-way tie with All-Filipino Conference defending champions Creamline and Choco Mucho at three wins in as many games.

“Hindi naman totally hindi seryoso sa ginagawa pero yung drive mo talaga na two points na lang, trabahuhin mo talaga,” coach Shaq delos Santos said. “Hindi din talaga pwede mag-bigay ng ganong puntos sa kalaban.”

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

Two sets down and still trailing behind the HD Spikers, 23-10, in the final frame, the Chameleons manufactured an 11-1 rally to make the match a nail-biter.

Jov Fernandez, one of Cignal’s latest recruits, managed to stop the bleeding at some point and help her new crew reach match point after blocking Jho Maraguinot before Chai Troncoso finally nailed a game-winning attack off the block.

“Lahat yan nagre-ready so talagang kailangan trabahuhin namin,” Delos Santos said. “Yung opportunity lang na sinasabi namin sakanila once na kayo yung nandiyan sa loob ng court, trabahuhin talaga and kaya naman ipanalo.”

Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos and Rose Doria on earning their third win. #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/EmUtesb4ou

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 7, 2024

Ces Molina led Cignal once more with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks and an ace, lacing it with eight excellent receptions as Roselyn Doria helped with her 10 points, all from kills.

Last conference’s best setter Gel Cayuna set up her teammates with 20 excellent sets as Dawn Macandili-Catindig, another new addition to Cignal, guarded the floor with 19 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.

READ: PVL: Cignal wastes no time in making bold statement

Maraguinot topscored for Nxled with 11 points from 10 attacks and a block, the lone block by the Chameleons, while also finishing with 12 excellent receptions. Lycha Ebon added nine points.

Nxled liberos Dani Ravena and Rachel Jorvina’s effort on the defense was not enough to help their crew clinch its first win of the conference in three games. Ravena had 12 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions while Jorvina had the same number of digs and receptions.

“Lesson learned sa amin yung nangyari,” Delos Santos said. “Good thing kasi yung ginagawa namin sa training, yung pinaghihirapan talaga, lumalabas sa game.“

“But sabi ko nga hindi talaga enough yun especially yung mga sunod na makakalaban namin mas contender,” he added as Cignal tries to not commit the same mistakes when they meet the previous conference’s runners up Choco Mucho next Thursday.