Cignal leaned on its championship poise and experience as it turned back a determined Savouge Aesthetics side, carving out a tight 34-32, 25-22, 25-22 victory to advance to the semifinals of the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Friday night at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Super Spikers survived a nerve-wracking opening-set marathon that set the tone for the rest of the match.
What began as a routine nip-and-tuck opener escalated into a full-blown test of character, with both teams refusing to yield. Cignal had multiple chances to close out the frame but Savouge repeatedly fought back, saving set point after set point with gutsy swings and crisp transition plays.
At one point, the Super Spikers found themselves on the brink of dropping the set after Savouge seized momentum with back-to-back defensive stops. But Cignal countered with composure – tight coverage and disciplined net defense – to erase the deficit. The exchanges grew longer and more intense, the crowd alternating between gasps and cheers with every extended rally.
It wasn’t until a momentum-shifting key hit from Cignal and a costly Savouge attack error that the stalemate finally broke – ending a grueling, emotionally charged set that lasted far longer than regulation and tested both squads’ mental resolve.
Having weathered the early storm, the Super Spikers settled into a more controlled rhythm in the next two sets. Their composed play proved decisive as they fended off multiple Savouge rallies before completing the sweep.
It was a vital bounce-back win for the multi-titled squad, whose resiliency shone after an ego-deflating loss to UST-Gameville (23-25, 25-22, 26-28, 20-25) last Wednesday – a defeat that momentarily slowed their march to the semis of the league organized by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premiere EMS, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, and Arena Plus.
With a 5–2 record, Cignal joined unbeaten archrival Criss Cross (6–0) in the post-elimination phase.
“The score was close, ang kaibahan lang niyan ay the soft skills,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor. “’Yung patience, ’yung intensity, aggressiveness—’yung mga bagay na hindi nakikita sa court. ’Yung mental toughness, maybe ’yun ’yung naging advantage namin this game. ’Yung sobrang gutom manalo dahil masakit ang pagkatalo namin sa UST.”
True to that mentality, every time the Spin Doctors forced a tie, the Super Spikers always found an answer.
In the second frame, with the score locked at 22-all, a crucial error by Savouge’s Giles Torres opened the door for Cignal. Wendel Miguel then struck in two straight possessions to seal the three-point win.
The third set mirrored the same back-and-forth pressure, but this time Louie Ramirez took charge, firing a through-the-block kill that sparked Cignal’s finishing push. Lloyd Josafat then delivered two emphatic denials on Shawie Caritativo, sealing the sweep after one hour and 42 minutes.
The challenge now for the defending champions is sustaining their form as Ramirez, Josafat, Owa Retamar, and Vince Lorenzo join the national team’s training ahead of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Ramirez led Cignal with 14 points and 12 excellent receptions, while Josafat added 10 markers, including four blocks. Miguel and Jau Umandal chipped in nine points apiece, and Jay Rack Dela Noche contributed seven.
Savouge Aesthetics ended the eliminations with a 4-3 record and must now wait for the results of Sunday’s UST-Gameville vs. FEU-DN Steel match and the Criss Cross vs. Alpha Insurance clash to determine its semis fate.
Spin Doctors head coach Sydney Calderon struggled to find the right combination on the court, shuffling her lineup throughout the match in search of rhythm and stability.
Reymark Betco and Giles Torres led Savouge with nine points each, while Mark Calado and Madz Gampong added eight apiece.
