Cignal HD and Petro Gazz recorded contrasting victories on Friday to march to the Finals of the PNVF Champions League for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The top-seeded HD Spikers were pushed to the limit by the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers before completing a reverse sweep, 23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-10.
Glaudine Troncoso starred for Cignal HD in the comeback win, scoring six of her team-high 15 points in the final set. The HD Spikers won the first seven points of the fifth frame to put the Lady Blazers on the back foot.
They improved to 5-0 in the tournament heading into the Finals on Saturday.
Ces Molina, Ria Meneses and Chin Basas added 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively while Vanie Gandler had nine points featuring a couple of crucial hits down the stretch to repel St. Benilde’s comeback attempt.
"I think it's our maturity. Experience-wise, lamang kami," coach Shaq delos Santos said. "'Yung momentum rin siguro after namin makuha 'yung third set. Malaking bagay 'yun. Again, 'yung tiwala lang siguro sa team na hindi ko pwedeng tanggalin. Never mawawala 'yung tiwala ko sa kanila."
Meanwhile, Petro Gazz tallied a straightforward 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 triumph over Chery Tiggo to join the HD Spikers in the one-game Finals affair.
Jonah Sabete led the way for the Gazz Angels with 19 points while Brooke Van Sickle added 12, as Petro Gazz unloaded 44 kills to only 30 for the Crossovers.
Eya Laure put up 15 points but she was the only player in double-digits for Chery Tiggo.
