The Cignal HD Spikers open their title hunt in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference with quick sweep of the Chichi DHTSI Titans.
Cignal made an emphatic statement in its 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference opener, dominating Chichi DHTSI with a 25-16, 25-16, 25-15 sweep at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex on Tuesday, October 22.
Newcomers Owa Retamar and JM Ronquillo delivered impressive performances in their debut for the HD Spikers, leading the team to a swift victory in just 1 hour and 11 minutes.
Despite the absence of key players Louie Ramirez, Wendel Miguel, and Steven Rotter, Cignal's depth shone through as they began their quest for a tournament sweep.
Cignal’s offense overpowered the Titans from the start, laying the groundwork for their title campaign following their Open Conference win last May, where they swept the Criss Cross King Crunchers.
Retamar, formerly of National University, orchestrated the attack with 10 excellent sets in just two sets, while Ronquillo, a De La Salle University product, chipped in with nine points, including five attacks, two blocks, and two aces.
“Maybe to others, it looks like a strong start, but for us coaches and players, we’re not completely satisfied. We committed a lot of unforced errors that shouldn’t be happening at our level,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
The HD Spikers' dominance was evident in their offensive stats, converting 48 of 94 attack attempts and holding the Titans to just 18 successful hits.
Jau Umandal led the charge with 12 points, while Mark Calado added 10 markers, including eight attacks and two blocks. Team captain JP Bugaoan also contributed nine points.
Defensively, Vince Lorenzo anchored Cignal’s backline with 10 excellent digs and nine solid receptions.
Cignal now shifts its focus to a highly anticipated matchup against the Savouge Spin Doctors on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
On the other hand, the Titans fall to 0-3 in the conference, with Matt Miguel leading the team with six points and captain Jonathan Sorio adding five. Chichi DHTSI will look to bounce back against PGJC Navy on Friday at 4 p.m.