CIGNAL ended Choco Mucho’s 10-game unbeaten run with a come-from-behind 18-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10 win in Game One of their 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinal series at the Philsports Arena.
Riding Jovelyn Gonzaga's 16 attacks and 17 digs, the HD Spikers battled back from a two-set deficit to move on the brink of only their second appearance in the finals of the pioneering volleyball league.
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"Hindi ko ‘to magagawa kung hindi talaga dahil sa mga teammates ko kasi naglaro talaga kami as a team. Lagi naming ni-reremind na hindi kaya ng isa, dalawa, tatlo, kundi mas magaan ang trabaho kapag nagtutulungan kami," Gonzaga said.
"Ito ‘yung pinag-prepare-an namin — 'yung five sets na ganito. Naghanda rin kami talaga na ganito kahabang training. Nag-ttraining kami nang ganito kahaba para sa mangyayari na ganitong five sets," added reigning MVP Ces Molina, who had a game-high 23 points on 20 attacks, two blocks, and one ace.
Choco Mucho flexed the cohesiveness of its core unit in the first two sets, with Sisi Rondina (19 points) leading five Flying Titans in double figures, and was poised to hit its 11th successive victory.
With an encore of its straight-set prelims loss to Choco Mucho looking imminent, Cignal's triple threat was unleashed in the three closing sets as Vanie Gandler (17 points) connived with Gonzaga and Molina to bring the HD Spikers to their first PVL All-Filipino final in club history.
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