By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Cignal HD Spikers are on their way to another dominating Spikers Turf’ Open Conference campaign after entering the championship series with an untainted 13-0 win-loss record.
After a perfect elimination and Top 4 tournament phase, the star-studded HD Spikers team advanced to the grand finals round after a momentum-boosting semifinal win over the AMC-Cotabato Spikers, 25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, last March 27, 2023, held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Although already guaranteed a championship slot before taking on the Cotabato Spikers, Cignal still played to its highest level and never relaxed the entire game.
Marck Espejo was once again on a roll for the HD Spikers after topping the scoring department with 20 points built from 16 successful attacks.
The former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) stalwart also contributed defensively after 15 crucial excellent receptions alongside one solid block.
Despite falling in the third set in a tightly-contested battle, the HD Spikers aren’t willing to extend the match to five sets and finished Cotabato in the fourth.
Cignal’s chief tactician Dexter Clamor said that the most important thing was they won heading into the grand finals despite a near collapse at the hands of Cotabato.
With the win, the HD Spikers just nabbed its fourth-straight Spikers’ Turf championship appearance and is looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss last year.
Cignal faced a determined National University in the grand finals last conference and surprisingly folded against the younger squad of the tournament.
The HD Spikers will be kicking off its championship campaign today, at 5:30 PM, when they square off with Cotabato in the last scheduled match of the Spikers’ Turf doubleheader.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo D-Navigators and the Imus-Ivy Tuason Photography will be duking out for the bronze medal in the first game.
