Cignal survives CSB, sweeps elims

Cignal survives CSB, sweeps elims

MANILA, Philippines — Unbeaten Cignal HD fended off collegiate champion St. Benilde, 18-25, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 15-13, and clinched the top seeding in the PNVF Champions League yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Ces Molina unloaded 19 points on 15 attacks, three aces and a block as the HD Spikers completed a 4-0 sweep of the single-round eliminations despite a heavy resistance from the Lady Blazers.

Vanie Gandler added 12 points, Ria Meneses and Jacqueline Acuña had eight each while Glaudine Troncoso chipped in seven points in Cignal’s feisty win in two hours and seven minutes.

Cignal, as the top-ranked team, will face the  still-to-be-determined fourth-seeded squad tomorrow in the knockout semifinals.

Cignal won its first three matches against Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz and Philippine Army.

But the young and capable St. Benilde unit, previous winner of the PNVF Challenge Cup, proved to be their most difficult foe and pushed them to the limit.

After trading blows in the first four sets, the seasoned HD Spikers looked on their way to a commanding fifth set victory with an 11-6 upperhand only to find themselves in trouble once again.

Behind Corrine Apostol, the two-time NCAA champions unleashed a 7-3 barrage to strike within 13-14 before a costly error that went just out of bounds to end a long rally.

Apostol (13) and Clydel Catarig (10) carried the torch for St. Benilde, which fell to 1-2  after its debut win against the Philippine Army (0-2) entering a crucial battle against Petro Gazz for a seat in the Final Four.

Petro Gazz (1-1) and Chery Tiggo (1-1) were still playing as of press time in the key battle as the race to the Top 4 heats up with only one team getting the boot in the five-team tilt.