Defending champion Cignal inched closer to a return trip to the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals, drubbing the D’Navigators, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17, in the semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Friday.
The HD Spikers, who swept the eight-game elimination round, thus extended their dominance in the round-robin semis with a 2-0 record worth 6 points. This places them on the path towards a sixth straight championship appearance, a streak that dates back to the 2019 Reinforced Conference.
Cignal mentor Dexter Clamor said they worked on disrupting the momentum of the D’Navigators, particularly after the latter’s impressive victory over the Criss Cross King Crunchers.
“Sabi ko nga during the huddle mataas yung momentum ng D’Navigators kasi tinalo nila yung Criss Cross so kailangan maging handa kami, kailangan ichallenge namin sila na hindi sila makakuha ng momentum sa amin,” said Clamor.
Unlike in the first set where Cignal took control right from the start, the HD Spikers needed a late surge in the next frame to thwart the D’Navigators as Jau Umandal, Lloyd Josafat, Bryan Bagunas, and JP Bugaoan combined for five straight points to turn a 17-all count into a commanding 22-17 lead.
From there, Cignal maintained control of the match with Umandal and Bagunas leading their charge on their way to claiming the one-hour, 26-minute victory.
Cignal seeks to sustain its unbeaten run against Criss Cross on Sunday, also at Rizal Coliseum.
Umandal and Bagunas spearheaded Cignal’s charge with 17 and 16 points, respectively, with the latter also showcasing his defensive skills with seven excellent receptions.
Josafat and Bugaoan delivered 11 points apiece, highlighting the HD Spikers’ cohesive play as they committed just 13 errors throughout the match.
Cignal actually faced adversity before the match due to an injury incurred during warmups involving wing spiker Mark Calado and setter EJ Casaña, who were brought to the nearest medical facility for tests.
The D’Navigators dropped to 1-1 and will aim to rebound against PGJC-Navy tomorrow.
Edward Camposano emerged as the lone player to score in twin digits for the D’Navigators, pouring in 12 points, as Francis Saura struggled for just seven points after posting 20 markers against the King Crunchers.
