Cignal’s MJ Perez (15) in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Cignal chalked up a bounce-back win to open its second round assignments in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at PhilSports Arena.
Coming off a first loss this conference against unbeaten Akari, the HD Spikers beat Farm Fresh, 25-23, 28-26, 25-27, 25-15, to secure a quarterfinals seat with a 5-1 record.
“One of the things in our minds was we really needed to recover from our loss last game,” coach Shaq delos Santos said in Filipino.
The Foxies could not find ways to slow down the offensive artillery of Cignal led by MJ Perez, who dished out 25 points, 23 off attacks, and Ces Molina, who finished with 14 points, all but one from kills.
“To be honest, I’m always hard on myself, I don’t feel today that I was at my highest performance,” Perez said. “But the most important thing is that the team won.”
READ: Cignal had extra motivation facing finals foe Petro Gazz
Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos, MJ Perez, and Jheck Dionela after booking a quarterfinals ticket. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/4OqaBY4Y1f
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 10, 2024
Rose Doria was also productive with 13 points, three coming from her net defense, and Chin Basas, who added 11 points, four from the nine total blocks of Cignal apart from two aces and 13 excellent digs.
Gel Cayuna’s brilliant playmaking was also on full display with 19 excellent sets. Perez’s performance was also highlighted by 20 excellent receptions.
“This is teamwork and I try to tell my team as much as I can if it’s not in their attack, maybe, in the defense, on the receive. I try my best all the time,” Perez added.
The duo of Trisha Tubu and Colombian Yeny Murillo were productive but it was not enough to lift Farm Fresh which lost its fourth match in six games.
Tubu poured in 23 points from 20 attacks and three blocks while Murillo added 21 points on 19 kills and a pair of blocks as Louie Romero ran Farm Fresh’s offense with 17 excellent sets.
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Libero Janel Delerio caught 20 excellent digs and 19 excellent receptions in the losing stand.
The Foxies presented an ample amount of challenge for the HD Spikers, leading in the opening frame before a great effort by Cignal to take over.
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Farm Fresh never let up and forced an extended second set before fading again but carried the fight over in the third frame to steal one.
But it was all the heat that the Foxies could bring as Cignal did everything that it wanted to come the fourth set with an 9-2 run that buried Farm Fresh in a deficit that was too much to come back from, 20-9, despite being able to trade blows in the endgame.