In a highly-anticipated clash of powerhouses, Cignal emerged victorious over Criss Cross, showcasing both poise and precision in a gripping five-set thriller in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at Philsports Arena in Pasig on Sunday night.
The HD Spikers displayed superb execution in the clutch, sealing a 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 18-25, 15-11 decision by dominating in the final moments while sustaining a formidable defense up front.
“Happy kami na nanalo pero lumalabas ‘yung nagiging problema namin for the past games na alam namin mananalo na kami, tapos lumalabas ‘yung complacency namin. ‘Yun ‘yung kailangan pa naming i-work out,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
Despite losing a two-set lead, the HD Spikers maintained their focus, turning what looked like a razor-thin fifth set into a four-point triumph. The victory was Cignal’s third in four games, marred by a five-set defeat to Savouge.
The HD Spikers also dealt the King Crunchers, whom they swept in the Open Conference finals, their first loss after two consecutive victories.
The match's turning point came in the third set when Criss Cross seemed poised to extend their lead from a 23-20 advantage. However, Jau Umandal led a spirited rally for Cignal, pushing the set to an intense finish filled with momentum shifts.
But Criss Cross managed to clinch the set with a block following a powerful Jude Garcia hit, adding to the suspense. The King Crunchers built on that victory and crushed the HD Spikers in the fourth to force a Set 5.
In the decider, the two teams traded points, tying at 3 before JM Ronquillo landed a critical kill to give Cignal a slim lead. A net touch by Ish Polvorosa widened the gap, which was further extended by a down-the-line strike from Wendel Miguel and a solid Lloyd Josafat finish following a Criss Cross miscue.
Criss Cross briefly halted Cignal’s scoring with a quick side-out by Chumason Njigha. A pause in the match ensued after JP Bugaoan cramped up, but Cignal returned with unwavering resolve. Ronquillo capitalized on his third back-row attempt, while another Polvorosa error allowed Cignal to stretch their lead to 9-4.
Although Ronquillo committed back-to-back attack errors, which allowed Criss Cross to narrow the gap to 6-9, Cignal’s versatile attack, led by Josafat, kept them ahead at 10-6. The King Crunchers fought back, drawing close with consecutive points, yet Cignal found timely heroics from Umandal and Martin Bugaoan.
On defense, the HD Spikers shone as they blocked Garcia’s kill attempts multiple times, the last courtesy of Umandal, which pushed Cignal to match point. Despite blowing two match points – first with a service fault by Ronquillo, then an attack error by Umandal – the HD Spikers called on Mark Calado, who drilled a sharp cross-court hit to clinch the hard-fought win.
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