New HD Spikers Erika Santos, Tin Tiamzon fuel Cignal sweep vs. Akari in PVL On Tour opener

Erika Santos and Tin Tiamzon wasted no time announcing their arrival at Cignal, powering the HD Spikers to a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23, on the opening day of PVL On Tour on Sunday at the Chavit Coliseum in Ilocos Sur. 

The pair of veteran spikers, who are marking their debut game with Cignal, provided the finishing kick amid a third-set comeback attempt from the Chargers as the HD Spikers were off to a statement start in the preseason showcase. 

Santos, who transferred to Cignal after a three-year run with PLDT, top-scored with 14 points while the comebacking Tiamzon chipped in 11 markers and 14 receptions. Ishie Lalongisip churned out nine points to step up in the absence of Vanie Gandler, who was fresh off a stint with Alas Pilipinas. 

Cignal pulled away in the second set after breaking a 10-all deadlock with a wild 13-1 rampage that saw Santos capping it off with a strong kill from the opposite side. 

Rookie Erin Pangilinan, who transitioned from middle blocker to an opposite spiker, then finished it off by shattering a two-woman block in the right side for a dominant 25-14 victory. 

But Akari, who was playing without new head coach Tina Salak and several key players in Fifi Sharma, Faith Nisperos, and Erika Raags, mounted a fightback in Set 3 behind Grethcel Soltones, whose back-to-back points gave the Chargers a slim 19-18 lead. 

Santos then converted two points as part of a pivotal 5-0 blast that sent Cignal to a 23-19 cushion before Tiamzon's hammer against the block of Eli Soyud handed them the match point at 24-21. 

A defiant Akari once again resisted with Soltones and Ivy Lacsina scoring back-to-back points to pull within a solitary point, 23-24. But the Chargers could not capitalize on an overpass from Tiamzon with Soyud mistiming a potential game-tying attack, leading to a Cignal sweep victory. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News