Cignal HD’s campaign in the 2025 AVC Men’s Champions League came to an abrupt end on Tuesday afternoon after suffering a second consecutive straight-sets loss, this time at the hands of Shanghai Bright of China, 12-25, 13-25, 18-25, at the Panasonic Arena.
Following a spirited performance against host team Osaka Blute on Monday, the HD Spikers struggled to keep pace with Shanghai’s firepower, crashing out of Pool B with an 0-2 record and finishing at the bottom of the group standings.
The loss sealed Cignal’s elimination from the tournament, while Osaka (2-0) and Shanghai (1-1) clinched the two quarterfinals spots in Pool B.
Powered by several members of the Alas Pilipinas national team in preparation for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the HD Spikers were overwhelmed by the offensive barrage of Shanghai Bright, led by Chengcheng Xiu and former Polish international Michal Kubiak.
Xiu tallied a game-high 16 points off 12 attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while Kubiak and Bohan Wang contributed 10 points each to lift the Chinese club past the Filipinos and into the next round.
Cignal’s woes began early in the opening set as Shanghai surged to a 16-6 lead, taking full advantage of the HD Spikers’ erratic play and shaky reception. Despite the efforts of Louie Ramirez and Steven Rotter, who tried to spark a rally, the deficit proved insurmountable as Shanghai cruised to a 25-12 set win.
The second set saw a glimmer of hope for Cignal. Trailing 20-13, the Filipino side mounted a 5-2 run behind the combined efforts of Ramirez, Rotter, Marck Espejo, and setter Owa Retamar to close the gap to 22-18. But late unforced errors dashed any comeback hopes as Shanghai sealed the second frame, 25-13.
By the third set, momentum had clearly shifted in Shanghai’s favor. Cignal continued to struggle with consistency, allowing their opponents to pull away and ultimately seal the sweep in just over an hour.
Rotter and Ramirez carried the scoring load for Cignal with 11 points apiece, while Espejo added seven markers along with seven excellent receptions. Lloyd Josafat chipped in nine points in the losing effort.
Despite the early exit, the HD Spikers gained valuable international exposure as they continue to build towards their campaign in the upcoming FIVB Men’s World Championship.
