Santos big in Cignal’s quarters-clinching triumph over Zus

Erika Santos (right) carves out a career-high 30 points in leading Cignal. —PVL IMAGES

Repaying the faith that Cignal had in pursuing her in the offseason, Erika Santos authored the first 30-point game of her career and took the HD Spikers on a ride to the quarterfinal round of the PVL On Tour after a 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16 victory over ZUS Coffee on Sunday at City of Passi Arena in Iloilo.

“Scoring 30 big points today is special since it’s actually my first time reaching 20-plus points in the pros,” said Santos, a four-year pro, in Filipino after also tallying eight digs. “It’s simple for me. I’m not satisfied with where I am now because I know I can still improve.

“I want to keep learning and find out the areas I need to correct,” the former La Salle ace added.

From scoring 14 points in their tough, four-set loss to Chery Tiggo less than 24 hours ago, the 25-year-old opposite spiker hammered the enemy with a 29-of-58 spiking clip and a block for her PVL career game.

Cignal flew back to Manila with a 4-1 Pool B record for one of the two quarterfinal berths in its group.

“We just went back to what we worked on,” Santos said, as she rued a four-set loss the night before to Chery Tiggo. “We didn’t allow ourselves to give up. It was good that we acknowledged what happened last night, our mistakes and lapses, and the things we still need to learn.

“We didn’t stop, we just kept going.”

Ishie Lalongisip also shone for the HD Spikers with 15 points and 13 excellent receptions. Jackie Acuña had 11 points, highlighted by three blocks. Rose Doria also scored three kill blocks to finish with nine points. Tin Tiamzon added seven points and 10 receptions, while setter Gel Cayuna dished out 27 excellent sets on top of six points.

“It feels good because all our hard work is paying off,” Santos went on. Credit goes to my teammates and coaches for all the work they put in.”

ZUS Coffee couldn’t follow up on its first franchise win over Creamline, 24-26, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11, on Saturday, as it dropped to a 2-2 record.

Chinnie Arroyo was the lone bright spot with 20 points. Iloilo native Chai Troncoso chipped in nine points, while AC Miner and Fiola Ceballos added eight each. Jov Gonzaga, who played through a back injury against Creamline, only played in the opening set and sat out for the remainder of the match.

The Thunderbelles wrap up their Pool B campaign against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Candon, Ilocos Sur, on July 29.