Cignal HD flashed its endgame brilliance in the first two sets then used a strong start in the third to hammer out a 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 victory over National U-Sta. Elena and finish in a three-way tie at the top at the close of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference elims at the Paco Arena, Tuesday evening.
The HD Spikers were on point majority of the match – the quickness, smart hitting, blocking and digging lacking in their four-set setback to the Navy Sealions last week coming into fore. But it was their experience and poise that carried the back-to-back defending champions against the previously unbeaten Nationals in the clutch of the tightly-fought contest.
Cignal actually seized control early in the third but wavered in the face of the Nationals’ strong comeback that put the latter back in the hunt at 22-23. But a couple of attack errors, the last from top NU-Sta. Elena hitter Nico Almendras, enabled the HD Spikers to complete the straight-set win.
Cignal, NU-Sta. Elena and Navy thus closed out the elims with identical 5-1 cards with VNS-One Alicia completing the semis cast with a 3-3 mark.
Action in the country’s premier men’s volley league organized by Sports Vision heats up starting tomorrow (Thursday) with Cignal and NU-Sta. Elena clashing again in the 5:30 p.m. main game of the Final Four, another round robin phase.
VNS and Navy tangle in the 2:30 p.m. opener.
The top two will dispute the crown in a best-of-three affair.
