VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Cignal displayed cohesion and control early in the PVL (Premier Volleyball League) On Tour, sweeping Akari with a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 victory at the state-of-the-art Chavit Coliseum here on Sunday.
With their new recruits quickly blending in with the holdovers, the HD Spikers set the tone for their campaign, using fluid ball movement, crisp play patterns and solid execution to outclass a Chargers side still searching for rhythm and chemistry.
Newcomers Tin Tiamzon and Erika Santos filled the void left by the departure of two key players, helping Cignal rediscover the groove they sorely missed during their unsuccessful All-Filipino Conference run. Their early connection with veterans, orchestrated by four-time Best Setter Gel Cayuna, was evident from the get-go – a stark contrast to the disjointed play that marred Akari’s debut.
“We really prepared for this,” said Santos in Pilipino, who emerged as the game’s top scorer with 14 points in her first outing for Cignal. “We connected well and gelled quickly.”
“We really prepared for this tournament. We know there’s still a lot to improve on,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos, who lauded Santos for her strong debut in their one-hour, 33-minute victory.
“Erika is new to the team, but the way she played made us really happy. I’m confident she still has so much more to offer,” he added.
Tiamzon backed Santos with 11 points while Ishie Lalongisip, Roselyn Doria-Aquino, Jackie Acuña and Cayuna added nine, eight, seven and five points, respectively.
Akari, meanwhile, struggled with miscues and miscommunication, especially in the second set, which saw them collapse from an 8-7 start to a 23-11 hole. Their inconsistencies, particularly on serve receive and transition, allowed the HD Spikers to cruise through a 17-point set fueled by 17 attacks and seven free points off Akari’s errors.
Grethcel Soltones tried to spark a rally with back-to-back hits late in the second frame, but rookie Erin Pangilinan slammed the door with a clutch through-the-block hit that sealed a 2-0 lead and announced her arrival in the pro league.
Cignal’s offensive firepower proved too much, outhitting Akari 50-36, even as the Chargers held the edge in blocks, 6-2. The HD Spikers also took advantage of 20 unforced errors by Akari, while conceding just 16.
Soyud paced Akari with 12 points, while Soltones finished with 11 markers and Lacsina added nine points. Middle Ced Domingo chipped five markers while rookie Chenie Tagaod and Kamille Cal added three points apiece.
In the opening frame, Akari showed flashes of promise, racing to a 13-9 lead. But as Cignal’s defense adjusted, the HD Spikers rallied to seize a 16-15 lead off a Cal error and held firm down the stretch.
Santos delivered the finishing blow with a kill that capped a fiercely contested set, delighting the packed crowd at the state-of-the-art coliseum.
The Chargers tried to recover in the third, keeping the game tight at 15-all. Ivy Lacsina and Soltones kept pace, but a clever push from Santos and crucial miscues from Akari shifted momentum back to Cignal, which surged ahead 23-19.
Akari made one last stand, saving two match points with a Soltones kill and a Lacsina joust. But Soyud’s miscue on a potential overpass opportunity allowed Cignal to escape with the win – and exposed Akari’s struggle to find cohesion in the early goings of the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Facing powerhouse Creamline next, Santos remained focused on growth and progress.
“Same goal – I just want to keep growing with this new team,” said Santos. “Facing Creamline, it’s back to the drawing board. We’ll study their game and keep working to improve.”
Meanwhile, the league continues to deliver top-notch action, with Cignal eyeing back-to-back wins as it battles Capital1 at 4 p.m. today (Monday), also at the Chavit Coliseum.
Creamline, which was still playing against Capital1 at presstime, is set to face Akari at 6:30 p.m., wrapping up the two-day kickoff leg of the PVL On Tour. The Vigan stop, initiated by Gov. Jerry Singson, features four of the six Pool B teams in the preliminary phase of the two-month-long pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision.
