Cignal solves puzzle versus UVC
Game today (Filoil Flying V Center) 7 p.m. – Foton vs F2 Logistics (quarterfinals rubbermatch)
Cignal broke out of the stranglehold of United Volleyball Club, pulling off a 25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory to march into the semifinals of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix Tuesday night at the Filoil Flying V Center.
Swept by UVC in the two-round eliminations, the HD Spikers turned the tide in the game that mattered more, going playoff mode to earn the right to face unbeaten top seed Petron in the Last Four.
The Blaze Spikers progressed after blanking No. 8 Sta. Lucia over the weekend.
“We really pushed the team to give everything they got and have the right mindset to this game. They really fought it out, doing it for one another,” said Cignal coach Edgar Barroga, whose fourth-ranked wards took the first and third sets rather convincingly then outduelled UVC in a tight battle to the finish in the fourth.
Erica Wilson punched in 25 points while Ana Artemeva added 18 and local stars Rachel Ann Daquis and Mylene Paat, heroines of their fourth-set clincher, combined for 15.
Kalei Mau and Yasmeen Bedart-Ghani scored 20 apiece for UVC, which also drew 14 from Thai national team mainstay Stadta Chueweulim, a late replacement for Tai Manu-Olevao.
Meanwhile, No. 2 F2 Logistics and No. 7 Foton dispute a semifinal berth as they clash one last time at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Tornadoes forced the Cargo Movers to a rubber match after pulling off an earthshaking 27-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12 triumph in the opener of their Last Four duel with Jaja Santiago and Courtney Felinski spearheading the assault.
“We’re really happy for the win, but we can’t be too excited,” said Foton mentor Aaron Velez. “I can’t say that we have the upper hand. All I can say is that the hungrier and more prepared team will definitely advance to the next round.”
“This is a do-or-die game so we have to give everything we can,” said F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus. “Foton is such a tough team. We have to bring out our A-game if we want to make it to the next round.”