A little over a week since their epic semis encounter in the PVL Reinforced Conference, Cignal challenges Creamline once again in another crucial match, this time in the Invitational Conference.
The Cignal-Creamline showdown in the semifinals of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference proved to be a key turning point in conference.
While the Cool Smashers won that game in five, and eventually took the title at the expense of the Akari Chargers, there’s a sense of “what if” especially on the side of the HD Spikers.
Not only did Cignal took a 2-0 lead in that match, the HD Spikers had multiple match points in the fourth set, only to still come up short in the end.
But only a little over a week since, Cignal gets another crack at Creamline, with both teams matching up in the 2024 Invitational Conference.
It’s another mega showdown, as the result of the match would more than likely determine a finalist in the season-ending tournament.
The HD Spikers are ready, now more than ever.
“Kung ready kami? Ready na ready naman,” Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos after the HD Spikers moved to 2-0 in the PVL Invitational Conference.
“Mindset lang kami na kailangan maka-perform kami ng maayos, and gagawin namin yung best namin,” he added.
Even after such a deflating loss to Creamline, Cignal managed to rebound and took third place in the Reinforced Conference.
Now, the HD Spikers look to rebound against the actual Cool Smashers, who they haven’t beaten since 2022.
“Kung ano yung mga naging kulang namin nung game namin against Creamline, kailangan mabawi namin,” coach Shaq said, as Cignal has actually lost three five setters in the last four games vs. Creamline. In the last two, the HD Spikers took a 2-0 lead but failed to cash in.
“Ang dami namin natutunan doon,” Delos Santos added.
“And good thing ang laki ng opportunity ulit na magawa namin and ma-correct yung mga naging kulang noon.”