Cignal hurdled a tough second set test to send VNS-One Alicia packing with a 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 victory in the semifinals round of the 2022 Spikers Turf Open Conference, Saturday at Paco Arena.
Cignal and Navy dispute the second finals berth in an explosive showdown at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday with the winner facing Sta. Elena for the crown.
The defending back-to-back champions also bucked the absence of top hitter Marck Espejo in the last two frames with Louie Ramirez taking over to lead the assault with his kills and the rest backing him up with their solid all-around play.
The Griffins blew a 19-16 lead in the second set as Ben San Andres made two mishits that sandwiched a foiled attack, enabling the HD Spikers to take command at 23-21.
San Andres redeemed himself with three straight off-the-block hits to extend the match but a VNS service miscue and another San Andres attack error helped lift Cignal to a 2-0 set lead.
"Itong week sobrang exhausted kami, parang roller coaster na masaya noong nanalo kami noong Tuesday and then biglang down noong Thursday na supposed to be sa amin na," said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
Ramirez finished with 16 points while JP Bugaoan added 13 hits and Chumason Njigha chipped in seven points for the HD Spikers, who drew a solitary point from Espejo, who saw action only in the opening frame to rest a slight heel injury he sustained against the Nationals.
The Griffins drew a pair of 11-point outputs from San Andres and Kevin Montemayor but bowed out of the finals race with a 0-2 card.
