GIANT KILLERS
A perennial contender that seemed to have lost its way early in the PVL Reinforced Conference, Cignal put a screeching halt to another streaking side’s unblemished run on Thursday as the Super Spikers practically announced that they are ready for bigger things moving forward.
A stunning 25-12, 26-24, 25-23 sweep of ZUS Coffee at the Smart Araneta Coliseum not only halted the Thunderbelles’ six-game winning run, but put the Super Spikers firmly inside the circle of teams that will advance to the quarterfinals. And the way they are playing of late has certainly put that bad form early in the conference behind.
“I am just so proud of the team because they all worked for this and worked hard,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said in Filipino after the one-hour and 21-minute match that had the Super Spikers rising to 4-3 and into fifth spot. Eight teams will make it past this round.
“I am extremely happy because this is what we have been focusing on,” added Delos Santos. “And the good thing about this is that we are sticking to the team’s process. Which is good.”
Akari also improved to 4-3 after a 25-13, 25-17, 25-22 rout of sister squad Nxled. Import Annie Mitchem powered the Chargers with 20 points, while Grethcel Soltones provided solid support with 12 in the match that took only 75 minutes.
ZUS was the second unbeaten team in two weeks to fall at the hands of Cignal, which also dealt PLDT its first defeat. The Super Spikers put an end to the High Speed Hitters’ 15-game winning streak with that win, which actually signaled their reawakening that was sustained with the sprint of a triumph they had over the Thunderbelles.
Erika Santos was the local at the forefront of the swashbuckling win, firing 19 points built around 13 kills, with the last of her three blocks that came off Chinnie Arroyo sealing the victory.
“There’s no turning back for us, not now,” Santos said, also in Filipino. “We know that our remaining games will be crucial (in our drive to make the playoffs) because we are at the bottom half (of the standings coming into this game).”
Setter Gel Cayuna also shone, finishing with 21 excellent sets aside from six points, with libero Dawn Catindig accounting for 16 excellent digs that typified Cignal’s tough defensive stand.
Creamline is next
With back-to-back wins, first over Akari in four sets, and now this stunning sweep of ZUS Coffee, the Super Spikers are now one of the most dangerous teams heading into the knockout quarterfinals of the year-ending conference.
They have another formidable squad they have a crack at beating when they face Creamline on Tuesday. That game will more or less determine Cignal’s playoff chances.
Anna DeBeer carried much of the offensive load for the Thunderbelles with 26 points, but not having much local support for the first time in seven games told on ZUS.
Thea Gagate, the first No. 1 pick in the history of the Draft, managed just five points, while AC Miner and Arroyo were limited to just three a piece.
