PVL: Cignal vents ire on skidding Farm Fresh, boosts semis bid

Reeling from a crucial five-set loss to the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Cignal HD Spikers dumped their frustrations on the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-10, 25-14, 25-15, in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday.

The HD Spikers rose to joint fourth place, hiking their record to 5-2 for a three-way logjam with the Petro Gazz Angels and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

Jovelyn Gonzaga flirted with another triple-double, producing a game-high 17 points, 10 digs, and seven receptions.

Captain Ces Molina also made her presence felt with 11 markers, while Vanie Gandler and Roselyn Doria chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Gel Cayuna orchestrated the offense to the tune of 18 excellent sets for the HD Spikers, who outgunnned the Foxies, 47-28.

Farm Fresh went with an unconventional rotation in the crucial bout, slotting Trisha Tubu in the middle while placing Rizza Cruz in the opposite hitter position. 

Cignal wasted no time pouncing on the opposition’s vulnerabilities as it mounted a 19-10 cushion. The quartet of Riri Meneses, Gonzaga, Gandler, and Cayuna then instigated a set-clinching 6-0 run.

The HD Spikers sustained their dominant form in the second salvo, where they built another double-digit lead for a 2-0 set buffer.

Come the decisive third, Farm Fresh found its groove and even held a brief edge at 10-9. Cignal, though, tipped the scales back to its favor and preserved the advantage the rest of the way.

The Foxies fell to 2-5, tied with idle Akari and Galeries Tower.

No one from Farm Fresh scored in double figures with Chinnie Arroyo pacing the losing side with eight points.

Cignal aims to pick up steam and carry over momentum when it collides with Chery Tiggo on April 11, Thursday.

Farm Fresh, on the other hand, seeks to arrest its skid when it takes on Nxled on April 9, Tuesday.

Both matches will be held at the same Pasig venue.