The Cignal HD Spikers asserted their early dominance of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference after downing fellow contender Creamline Cool Smashers in four sets, 25-21, 26-24, 14-25, 25-22, at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Thursday, July 21.
Ces Molina led the semifinals-clinching win for the 4-0 Cignal side with 15 points off 11 attacks and 4 blocks, plus 12 excellent digs.
Glaudine Troncoso and Rachel Anne Daquis scored 11 and 10, respectively, while the returning Gel Cayuna tallied 17 excellent sets after a one-game rest.
Creamline looked headed for a second-set comeback after dropping the opener to Cignal. However, the HD Spikers somehow turned a late 17-22 deficit to a 26-24 win following a stunning 9-2 rally, hiked by multiple Cool Smashers errors and capped by a Ria Meneses kill.
Although Creamline fired back with a 25-14 blowout in the third set, Cignal quickly got its bearings back in the fourth and finished off its foe with a Cayuna-led 3-0 blitz off a 22-all tie.
“I’m really happy and proud of my players, especially Gel whom we just got back earlier. We’re really happy with the win. Really happy. Of course, we know what Creamline is capable of, and we really respect them,” said Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos in Filipino.
Tots Carlos led all scorers in the loss with 21 points for the 2-1 Cool Smashers, who experienced their first loss of the 2022 season after a 10-game winning streak that included a perfect Open Conference.
Jia de Guzman tallied 23 excellent sets, while Jema Galanza and Ced Domingo scored 13 and 11, respectively.
