HD Spikers make finals

‘I think it’s our maturity. Experience-wise, we have the advantage.’

Cignal survived an upset scare after clawing back from two sets down to turn back College of Saint Benilde, 23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-10, and reserve a seat in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League finals Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Red-hot Glaudine Troncoso anchored a searing 7-0 start in the deciding set that turned the tides in favor of the HD Spikers, who had to turn every corner from a 0-2 deficit to survive the Lady Blazers on their way to the one-game championship on Saturday.

Troncoso fired six of his 15 points in the clincher, highlighted by a personal 4-0 blast as Cignal extended their perfect run to five games after wiping out the elimination round for the top seeding in the Final Four.

Ces Molina added 13 points, Ria Meneses and Chin Basas posted 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for the HD Spikers.

Cignal will face the winner between Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, who are playing as of press time, in the final.

Vanie Gandler got nine points including crucial hits down the stretch to repel Saint Benilde’s comeback attempt.

“I think it’s our maturity. Experience-wise, we have the advantage,” coach Shaq delos Santos said of the gritty escape act against the young but formidable two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champions.

Like their hard-earned 18-25, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 15-13 win over the same opponents in the elimination round, the HD Spikers saw themselves in a similar dogfight after surrendering the first two frames in the slimmest of margins.

Gayle Pascual hammered 18 points while Zamantha Nolasco and Corrine Apostol had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the PNVF Challenge Cup champions.

Saint Benilde will try to salvage the bronze medal against the loser between Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz.