PVL

New-look Cignal upsets defending champion Chery Tiggo in four-set thriller

A new-look Cignal HD made sure to start off on the right foot in the 2022 PVL Open Conference after frustrating Chery Tiggo in four sets, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, on Wednesday.

Ces Molina was impressive in her Cignal debut, putting up 16 points on 13 attacks, two aces, and one block while team captain Rachel Anne Daquis added 14. Angeli Araneta finished with 12 markers.

The HD Spikers, who finished last season with a 1-8 card to finish dead-last, forced the Jaja Santiago-less Crossovers to commit 14 errors in the opening set while picking up seven attacks, 25-22.

The defending champions, however, leaned on the returning Mylene Paat, who alongside teammate Dindin Santiago-Manabat helped Nakhonratchasima VC cop bronze in Thailand, as they equalized the match to one set apiece, 22-25.

Cignal came alive in the third set with a slide attack from veteran Daquis giving them the first set point, 24-21, before EJ Laure saved one for Chery Tiggo. A quick hit from Roselyn Doria then capped the third frame for Cignal, 25-22, to go 2-1 in the game.

Cignal never looked back since then, establishing a 20-17 upper hand in the fourth set following an attack from the opposite side by Araneta. Back-to-back blocks from Daquis put Cignal up 23-17.

Two consecutive errors from the side of Chery Tiggo proved costly as those handed the Cignal the victory.

Cignal is coming into the tournament with a huge recruitment haul in the off-season which saw them tap prized volleyball spikers in Graze Bombita, Ria Meneses, Jerrili Malabanan, Marist Layug, Gel Cayuna, Molina, and Araneta.

—MGP, GMA News