HD Spikers continue resurgence

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal leaned on its poise and experience as it overcame a young and aggressive Farm Fresh, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, yesterday to continue its resurgence in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

Invitational Conference MVP Ces Molina uncorked a match-high 20 points, including 18 on kills, while fellow grizzled veterans Riri Meneses and Jovelyn Gonzaga unloaded 16 and 13 hits, respectively, as the HD Spikers posted their second win in a row and third overall in five outings.

Vanessa Gandler chipped in 14 herself to help in the cause.

“Of course, happy sa naging result but we know andami pa namin kailangang trabahuhin at i-work out,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos. “Good thing na overcome namin iyung challenges.”

For Molina, she wasn’t surprised with how good the Foxies played.

“Young and aggressive sila, maganda sistema nila,” she said.

Molina has high hopes that her team could still be better.

“Hindi kami nagpaka kampante sa nilaro namin kasi kung tutuusin kaya pa namin maging better pa, kulang pa yan marami pa kami hindi nasusunod na game plan ni coach,” she said.

For it to happen, Delos Santos stressed the need for his charges to have unperturbed focus.

“Pag naging focused kami sa lahat ng skills na kailangan naming gawin, definitely gaganda results,” he said.

Farm Fresh, which relied on Trisha Tubu’s 19-point performance, fell to 0-6.

In the other game, PLDT routed Gerflor, 25-8, 25-9, 25-17, to roll to its fourth win in row after an opening-day defeat to Cignal.

The Defenders remained winless in five games.