Cignal edges PLDT in PVL battle for bronze

MANILA, Philippines – In search of a breakthrough Premier Volleyball League title, the Cignal HD Spikers have gladly consoled themselves with a Reinforced Conference bronze medal.

It materialized via a tense 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 victory over sister team PLDT Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena that sealed Cignal a league-record fifth bronze medal.

The win somehow eased the pain of the HD Spikers’ heartbreaking five-set semifinal defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday — a duel where the former came a point away from sealing a finals seat and a chance at a breakthrough PVL crown.

“I’m happy with the results, although it was not the result we wanted but we are still thankful,” said Venezuelan MJ Perez, who paced Cignal with 26 points including 22 bazooka kills.

Both Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos and skipper Ces Molina vowed to go for the big one next time.

“Hindi kami titigil na makuha ang goal namin na manalo ng championship,” said Delos Santos.

“Gusto pa rin namin improvement, magtrabaho pa, magtraining. Marami kaming adjustment [needed] at hindi kami titigil hangga’t kami makarating doon,” said Molina, who was also on fire on this one after dropping a 20-point effort.

It was another agonizing setback for the High Speed Hitters, who were still hurting from a devastating five-set loss to the Akari Chargers, which resulted in the former filing for a protest that was eventually junked.

The defeat denied PLDT its first podium finish, and the team was relegated to fourth for the third time —the franchise’s best finish in nine conferences in the league.

Russian juggernaut Elena Samoilenko unloaded a match-high 35 points that went for naught.

The High Speed Hitters came into the game wearing special black shirts with words “Pusong PLDT” emblazoned on them.

Somehow, it seemed to have inspired the High Speed Hitters as they seized the opening set and on the way to claiming their best performance since joining the league three years ago.

It wasn’t to be though.

PLDT also had a chance at forcing a deciding set when it led, 20-15, and later, 23-20, in the fourth set. But Cignal came rampaging back in stopping its sibling on its track and seizing the last five points and the win.