Cignal catches bus to semis

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal HD delivered a knockout blow on Choco Mucho and essayed a 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-14 victory yesterday to seize the last ticket to the semis in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Tai Bierria rebounded from a sputtering opening-set performance and took charge late for a match-best 18 points in leading the HD Spikers to the semis with a 5-3 record.

Cignal joins Creamline, Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz in the next round.

The semis, set at the PhilSports Arena tomorrow and Tuesday and Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Saturday, will implement a single-round robin format with the top two advancing to the best-of-three finale unfurling on Dec. 1 back at the PhilSports Arena or a bigger venue.

Now, the Shaq delos Santos-mentored squad will have a chance to eclipse, if not replicate, its pair of third-place finishes in the Open and Invitational Conferences this season.

Needing to win just two sets to advance, Cignal did that and more as it fought off a big challenge by Choco Mucho in the second set and then dominated the next two in sealing the former’s place in the next phase.

But it was over when the HD Spikers took the third set that the power-hitting Bierria dominated.

Ces Molina, who dyed her hair blonde, likewise delivered a clutch effort with 13 hits, including 12 off attacks.

It was a painful ending for the Flying Titans, who were in contention after going 3-3 a week ago.

But they ran into misfortunes after reinforcement Odina Aliyeva was scratched out in a 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, 28-26 loss to the Cool Smashers, their sister team, last Thursday at the MOA Arena due to health reasons.

Aliyeva returned to action on this one but wasn’t in full strength, a shadow of her old lethal self and wound up with only eight points.

It didn’t help that Kat Tolentino hurt her knee and Des Cheng jammed a finger during the game and were forced to sit out and watched helplessly from the bench.

Add all these and it was catastrophic for Choco Mucho, which closed its campaign with a 3-5 card.

“We really felt the pressure in the first set. It was a wake-up call for us,” said the Cignal coach in Filipino.

“But we pushed them (HD Spikers), reminding them that we shouldn’t blow this chance and just do what we have been doing in training, keep the mindset and use our experience and not to be complacent,” he added.

In the nightcap, F2 Logistics salvaged some measure of pride as it stunned Petro Gazz, 25-16, 25-22, 27-25, to finish fifth with a 4-4 slate. The Angels fell to 5-3 and will go to the semis as the No. 3 seeds.

The HD Spikers responded well and put their act together in time, battling the Flying Titans to a back-and-forth duel in the second frame before surging ahead at 20-17 on a Bierria kill.

Armed with superior points over the Flying Titans in case of a tie for No. 4, the HD Spikers needed just two sets to advance.