Cignal stretched its imposing run of straight-set romps to eight, crushing AMC-Cotabato, 25-15, 25-21, 25-17, to formalize its claim on the first semifinal berth in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena on Sunday.
Setter EJ Casaña orchestrated the HD Spikers’ offense with pinpoint accuracy, producing 24 excellent sets with JP Bugaoan, Marck Espejo and Ysay Marasigan scoring 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the fancied team turned what was expected to be a tight duel between unbeaten teams into a virtual workout.
Bugaoan came away with 11 kills and had three blocks while Casaña added an ace for the HD Spikers, made up mostly of members of the national team, who are out for redemption after losing to the young but talented National U Bulldogs the last time out.
"It boils down really sa preparation. Maganda kasi naging preparation namin this week coming to this game. And given na sila 'yung magre-represent sa national team, it's really a good motivation for us," said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor after steering the team to its eighth win in row, all in three-set fashions.
The loss was the first for the Cotabato Spikers, who swept their first five matches but simply had no answer to the HD Spikers’ awesome firepower and chemistry.
Casaña quickly buckled down to work and got everyone involved on offense with his brilliant playmaking skills, setting up Espejo and Wendel Miguel for backrow hits and Bugaoan in the middle, baffling the Cotabato Spikers’ net defense all game.
Cotabato kept it close as it tried to fight back in the next set but Cignal turned to its net defense to post a 20-16 lead, forcing AMC-Cotabato head coach Odjie Mamon to sue for time. The HD Spikers, however, cleverly went for an exchange of points and rolled to a four-point win for a 2-0 set lead.
The 2019 champions never let up, racing to a 16-10 bulge in the third frame even as the Cotabato Spikers tried to mount a comeback behind skipper Jayvee Sumagaysay and Jau Umandal – to no avail.
Umandal finished with 10 markers on nine attacks and one block while opposite hitter Madz Gampong delivered nine kills.
