Cignal, despite being mentally and physically drained from a challenging schedule, showcased its depth and poise to thwart Adamson-Davies Paints, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10, and clinch the top spot in Pool D of the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena Sunday night.
The HD Spikers, playing non-stop for four days marred by a five-set defeat to the UST side in a title duel in one tournament last Saturday, bucked fatigue as they flashed resiliency and determination to fend off the upset-seeking Soaring Falcons and complete their sweep of the group phase with a 5-0 record.
“We’re too tired. It’s our second hell week. Last week ilang games kami, apat. This week apat na games. Yesterday we are physically and mentally drained because of our championship last night,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
“We’re too tired pero proud ako sa mga batang ‘to na kahit pagod na pagod na pagod na pagod na, nilaban nila. Sobrang nilaban nila. Sobrang proud ako sa mga bata na ‘to,” added the player-turned-coach.
A set away from securing the win in four, the HD Spikers crumbled in the stretch as Jude Aguilar, John Gay and Francis Casas took turns in a momentum-shifting 5-0 run that enabled Adamson to seize a 22-20 edge.
Wendel Miguel and JP Bugaoan tried to save the set – and the match – for Cignal but the Soaring Falcons came through with clutch hits to force the decider.
Adamson kept the momentum of that big win and raced to a 6-2 bulge in the decider and stayed in control at 8-5.
But EJ Casana connected on an off-the-block hit while Bugaoan foiled Gay twice as he HD Spikers rattled off five straight points to storm ahead, 10-8.
The young Soaring Falcons, however,. refused to crack under pressure, scoring the next two points to force a tie at 10, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking finish as both teams vied for control in the stretch.
But experience prevailed in the end as the HD Spikers displayed composure and took the last five straight points to close out the tightly-contested match, aided by two straight Adamson attack errors.
Bugaoan also played a key role in that explosive Cignal windup, banging in a quick attack that shoved the team to an 11-10 lead before the HD Spikers went 3-up on those consecutive Adamson miscues.
Mark Calado likewise shone in the stretch with a surprise backrow attack on the team’s second touch that sailed long but dropped just inside Zone 5 before Bugaoan foiled John Gay’s assault to cap their decisive 5-0 closeout.
“Natapos na namin yung elimination round, going to quarterfinals of course we will get some time na makapagpahinga, makapag-recover, para kahit papaano we’re ready 100 percent,” said Clamor.
Cignal thus dealth Adamson its second loss against three wins, giving idle Saints and Lattes Letran a big favor in the Soaring Falcons and the Knights’ spirited battle for the other quarters berth.
With a 3-1 slate, Letran goes for the clincher against winless Coast Guard on Friday.
Bugaon took charge with 23 points on 17 attacks, three blocks, and three aces while Peter Torres tallied 14 markers in the victory. Calado contributed 11 points in a three-set stint while Jau Umandal, who hurt his left knee after diving for the ball late in the fourth and didn’t return, had 10 points, seven excellent receptions, and six excellent digs.
Casana glued things together with 23 excellent sets to go along with four points built on three blocks while Manuel Sumaguid manned the floor with 12 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs.
Casas paced the Soaring Falcons with 21 points while Gay added 16 points and 11 excellent receptions. Aguilar and Leo Coguimbal added 13 points apiece.
