Cignal posts third straight win, downs Choco Mucho

Cignal HD Spikers against Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Cignal notched a third straight victory in the PVL All-Filipino Conference by topping Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.

“Very thankful and blessed of course kasi kanina grabe yung labanan. Siyempre sobrang happy and proud sa team kasi kita ko yung pagod talaga especially nung gumalaw na rin talaga nang maganda yung Choco Mucho, which is yun yung in-expect namin,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said.

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“But ang good thing kasi, nakapag-invest na rin kami ng good two sets. Good thing siyempre na nakuha, na-panalo namin [yung game],” Delos Santos said.

READ: PVL: Cignal wins two straight after fending off Chery Tiggo

Setter Gel Cayuna produced 11 points, three from blocks, while helping four other HD Spikers to twin digits with 16 excellent sets to keep Cignal undefeated.

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“Malaking bagay [yung panalo versus Choco Mucho sa morale ng team] kasi isa sila sa matibay na team and hundred percent sure na makakatulong to sa next games pa namin and hundred percent ready rin kami sa kung ano yung ituturo pa ni coach Shaq, kung ano pa yung kaya pa naming i-absorb sa ipapagawa niya,” Cayuna said.

Jackie Acuña topscored for the HD Spikers with 14 points, five coming from blocks, Ces Molina chipped in 13 points while Vanie Gandler and Riri Meneses added 10 points each.

“Happy ako sa naging performance ng lahat. Talagang pinagpaguran namin sa training then sinunod lang talaga namin yung system ni coach Shaq,” Acuña said.

READ: PVL: Cignal dominates Farm Fresh

Gandler also dished out 14 excellent digs while Dawn Macandili-Catindig did her usual thing with 22 excellent digs.

The Flying Titans, despite carving out a 19-9 advantage on attacks in the third set to extend the match, suffered a second loss in four matches. Sisi Rondina’s game-high 24 points,  Royse Tubino’s 15 and Dindin Santiago-Manabat’s 11 points also went down the drain.

Mars Alba set up the Titans with 13 excellent sets while Tubino and Thang Ponce did their part on the defense with 12 and 19 excellent digs, respectively.

Choco Mucho needs to get its act together, especially with the expected blockbuster matchup against sister team Creamline up next on their calendar on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cignal aims to keep riding its streak against winless Nxled on Dec. 7 in Cebu.