By John Bryan Ulanday
Games tomorrow
(Caloocan Sports Complex)
2 p.m. — Cignal vs Petron
4 p.m. — F2 Logistics vs Generika-Ayala
6 p.m. — Marinerang Pilipina vs PLDT
UNSTOPPABLE Cignal zapped PLDT Home Fibr, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20, to secure a semis seat in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center on Thursday.
National team stalwart Mylene Paat led the way with 18 points on 14 hits, three blocks and an ace aside from eight digs as the HD Spikers extended their perfect run to five games in Pool C and clinched a return ticket to the Final Four after an impressive runner-up finish last All-Filipino Conference.
Skipper Rachel Ann Daquis churned out 13 markers and six receptions while Janine Navarro chipped in similar points for Cignal which is head for a collision with top contender and fellow unbeaten Petron tomorrow in Caloocan for the top seed in Pool C.
Libero Jeck Dionela supplied the floor defense for the HD Spikers with 13 digs while Alohi Robins-Hardy facilitated their attack with 19 sets plus five points.
“We can’t afford to be content yet. We may have won five straight victories but we still can’t relax. We have to be consistent every time,” said Paat who served as a key cog in the ASEAN GP second leg bronze medal finish of the Philippine women’s volleyball team last week in Laguna.
Paat along with teammate Jovelyn Gonzaga who did not suit up today, are also part of the final 14-man roster of the Filipina spikers for the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) here next month.
Meanwhile, PLDT’s woes continued as it suffered its third straight loss to slide to 1-3 in Pool C.
Jerrili Malabanan and Shola Alvarez posted 15 and 12 markers, respectively, in a foiled effort for the HD Spikers whose Final Four chances took a blow with still remaining assignments against Marinerang Pilipina and Petron this weekend.
