HD Spikers clip Giga Hitters, bolster semis drive

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal rode through a second set pressure and completed a 25-10, 26-24, 25-18 romp over Smart-Army yesterday to close in on an outright semifinal berth in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference at the Strike gym in Bacoor, Cavite.

Rachel Anne Daquis recalled her fierce form and fired 13 hits, including seven kills, four blocks and two aces while anchoring the team’s defense with five digs as the HD Spikers notched their second straight win.  Cignal thus moved two wins away from advancing to the semis outright.

“As I’ve I said before, you’ll see a different Daquis. She rotates and spikes everywhere. She’s really confident in everything she does,” said Cignal coach Edgar Barroga of the former FEU ace hitter.

“And I told her that this (Army) was her former team, they will target you so we practiced her reception,” he added.

Mylene Paat backed Daquis with 12 points built on seven kills, four blocks and an ace while Rapril Aguilar and Janine Navarro added five markers apiece, including clutch points in the second frame.

“This is how I wanted them to play,” Barroga said. “I think they already adjusted, their trust in each other is back, and they’re confident.”

After a 15-point rout in the first set, the HD Spikers struggled in the next as the Giga Hitters fought back from 12-17 down to tie the count at 20 off an ace from Alina Bicar.

But Aguilar came through with back-to-back hits for a 23-20 cushion before Paat put their team at set point, 24-22. 

The Giga Hitters, however, took the next two points and forced extension through Tin Francisco’s quick attack and Daquis’ attack error. But Aguilar scored on a hit and the HD Spikers clinched the win on a net fault by Smart.

Nene Bautista and Dimdim Pacres delivered six points apiece for the Giga Hitters, who dropped to 1-1 in Pool B.

The tournament, bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and Sogo Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners , is backed by Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.