CIGNAL RECOVERS IN TIME, REPULSES NXLED
In a match replete with championship flavor – save perhaps for the size of the crowd – Cignal snatched victory from the clutches of defeat, hacking out a pulsating 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-15, 16-14 decision over Nxled in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal on Saturday.
It was the Super Spikers’ second straight win following back-to-back losses to start their campaign in the year-ending conference and the triumph came on the heels of their stunning upset of the fancied PLDT High Speed Hitters last Tuesday, which snapped PLDT’s 15-game winning streak – the tournament’s biggest reversal so far – achieved even while playing all-Filipino.
But despite the debut of new import Katrin Trebichavska, Cignal still had to grind it out against a determined Nxled side hungry to end its own skid. Down 1–2 in sets, the Super Spikers roared back with a commanding fourth-frame win before outlasting the Chameleons in a tense, seesaw fifth set.
Facing match point at 13–14, Cignal turned to Trebichavska, whose powerful kill kept the Super Spikers alive. A backrow attack error by Paola Martinez then handed Cignal the lead, and the match ended in dramatic fashion when Roselyn Aquino won a net joust against Jaja Maraguinot, sending the ball bouncing to an undefended spot in Zone 2.
Adding to the drama, Nxled challenged the final play for a possible net fault, briefly halting Cignal’s celebration. However, video review confirmed Aquino was clear of the net, sealing the Super Spikers’ hard-earned two-hour, 16-minute triumph.
The victory sent Cignal to 2–2 in Pool A, while Nxled fell deeper into trouble at 0–4, left still searching for its first win of the conference.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, so we just stuck to what we trained for and the system we studied against them,” said Erica Santos in Filipino, who matched Trebichavska’s impressive 21-point debut and earned Best Player of the Game honors.
The PVL On Tour MVP also expressed gratitude to her coaches and teammates, especially setter Gel Cayuna, for orchestrating the offense that paved the way for their hard-fought victory.
“Every set, gusto kong patayin at mag-contribute sa team,” added Santos.
“Sobrang happy, of course, a win is a win kahit na five sets ‘yan,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos. “And that’s our goal, kailangan makakuha ulit kami ng panalo. We’re so happy and proud sa team namin, especially kay Erika, birthday girl, and of course, with the help of our new import, thank you so much.”
Aquino chipped in nine markers – none bigger than her match-clinching point – while Jackie Acuña also delivered nine points. Tin Tiamzon and Cayuna added six points apiece, with the latter also dishing out 29 excellent sets, narrowly edging Nxled counterpart Maraguinot, who finished with 28.
The loss proved doubly painful for the Chameleons. Not only did it squander Paola Martinez’s explosive 38-point performance, but it also extended their winless skid to 0–4. Chiara Permentilla contributed 16 points, while Lyann de Guzman added 11.
Statistically, the match was as tight as it was thrilling. Both teams nearly split the scoring departments, with Cignal edging Nxled in attacks, 63–61, while the Chameleons dominated the net with 14 blocks, four more than the Super Spikers.
However, Cignal capitalized on Nxled’s shaky service reception, firing 10 aces – double that of their rivals – and converting 26 points off Nxled’s errors, while conceding 20 of their own.
Trebichavska also showcased her defensive skills, tallying 10 excellent digs and seven receptions, while Dawn Catindig anchored the floor defense with 17 excellent digs and nine receptions.
“Obviously, I’m super glad that we won. And it was, for me, it was a rough performance. And I hope I can just help the team more in the future,” said Trebichavska.
“And everybody was super supportive, super helpful. Everybody is very, very good here. So I’m just grateful to be a part of this team. And hopefully, I can help them do even better in the future,” she added.
Riding the momentum of their 10-point rout in Set 4, Cignal scored the first two points in the decider before Martinez sparked a Nxled fightback. The Chameleons seized control at 7-4, then 10-7 after Cignal briefly tied the score at seven on a rare Cayuna first-ball attack.
Nxled continued to hold its composure, regaining the upper hand at 14–13 on a Martinez block-touch hit, inching within a point of their first win.
But the Super Spikers refused to yield. Behind Trebichavska’s timely hit and Aquino’s clutch joust, Cignal turned the tables to complete the stirring comeback and snatch the victory from the brink.
