In a fierce display of determination and skill, Louie Ramirez spearheaded Cignal HD Spikers to a dominant straight-set, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, victory over Savouge in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals.
The triumph at the Filoil EcoOil Centre was a statement win for the HD Spikers, avenging their five-set elimination round loss to the Spin Doctors over a month ago.
For Ramirez, who sat out their first encounter due to undisclosed reasons, the match wasn’t just another semifinal bout—it was personal.
The former NCAA MVP came out firing, racking up 17 points on an impressive 60.7% attack success rate, converting 17 of his 28 attempts in just 87 minutes of action.
“Sobrang eager kaming lahat makabawi sa Savouge kasi nga tinalo nila kami nung eliminations, so walang relaxed. Pinagaralan namin sila nang mabuti kasi gustong gusto talaga namin kunin ‘yung panalo ngayong semis,” Ramirez said after the game.
With his explosive performance, Ramirez proved to be the missing piece in Cignal’s earlier loss to Savouge.
Reflecting on his absence in the elimination round, the Perpetual Help standout admitted he was fueled by his frustration and used it as motivation.
“Sobrang eager ako. Every set na binibigay sa’kin, gusto ko patayin. Every training, all out ako pa lagi,” he shared.
While Ramirez’s heroics set the tone for Cignal’s revenge, he was quick to highlight that the mission is far from over.
The HD Spikers have three more games to navigate in the semifinals as they aim for a top-two finish, securing a ticket to the winner-take-all finale and a shot at redemption after falling short in last year’s Invitationals.
“Maglalaro lang ako nang maayos saka gusto kong tumulong talaga sa team, para masuklian ko ‘yung binibigay ng management sa’min kaya push ako pa lagi every game, every training,” Ramirez added.
Cignal’s next challenge will come against FEU-DN Steel on Friday at 4:00 p.m., where Ramirez and his squad will look to sustain their momentum.
