CIGNAL booked the second ticket to the playoffs by pouncing on Farm Fresh in a straight-sets affair, 25-23, 28-26, 25-27, 25-14 in Pool D of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
Gel Cayuna masterfully orchestrated the quarterfinals-bound HD Spikers' onslaught with 19 excellent sets and a strong eight-point performance built on six attacks and two aces.
Cignal made the jump to second place in the combined team standings at 5-1 behind an unbeaten Akari side - and can keep hold of promising playoff position in its second Pool D assignment against still-winless Galeries Tower.
"Kailangang humaba 'yung pasensya namin. 'Yun lang talaga 'yung isang puhunan namin dahil actually 'di lang Galeries e. Lahat, even 'yung kalaban namin kanina, grabe 'yung floor defense.
"Isa 'yun sa nagiging challenge sa 'min na kapag 'yung medyo naiinip na kami, gusto na namin pumuntos agad, pero hindi siya madaling gawin ngayon," said Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos.
One loss was enough to pick up the pieces and regroup in commanding fashion — and it wasn't just Perez, who also had 20 receptionswho did the damage this time for the playoff-bound HD Spikers.
Former PVL MVP Ces Molina led Cignal's locals in scoring with 14 points and nine receptions ahead of Rose Doria's 13 markers and Chin Basas' 11 points and 13 digs.
Jheck Dionela also made the most of her extended gametime despite experiencing cramps for the first time in her pro career with 15 excellent digs.
The Foxies might have given it their best shot in keeping the match close for the most part, but there were plenty of bright spots to bank on the rest of the way.
Trisha Tubu topscored for Farm Fresh with 23 huge points alongside Colombian import Yeny Murillo's 21, only to fall ever so short in the end.
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