Cignal seeks payback and a chance to catch league leaders when it battles PLDT Home Fibr in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
Action starts at 7 p.m. with the HD Spikers still licking the wounds created by their sorry five-set loss to Generika-Ayala late Saturday in this prestigious women’s club tournament bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport.
Petron, on the other hand, shoots for its 11th win when it takes on lowly Marinerang Pilipina in the first game at 4:15 p.m.
The Blaze Spikers are lurking at the solo second spot with a 10-1 win-loss card, one full game behind F2 Logistics that remains undefeated after 11 matches in this battle that also has ESPN5 and Kapatid TV5 as broadcast partners.
Foton and Generika-Ayala are at third with an identical 7-5 card, leaving Cignal chasing the fourth spot with a 6-6 mark with only two games left in the double-round preliminaries.
The HD Spikers were looking to barge into the top four, but a heart-breaking 24-26, 25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 14-16 loss to Generika-Ayala spoiled its plan.
In that match, skipper Rachel Anne Daquis erupted for 20 points while Filipino-American playmaker Alohi Hardy-Robins delivered an all-around display of brilliance with 15 points, 30 excellent sets and 23 digs.
HD Spikers’ coach Edgar Barroga said they are moving on from that sorry episode and just focus on their remaining games to clinch a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
“We have to move on from that loss because we still have two remaining games,” Barroga said.
“Those games are important. We need to be in a good standing entering the quarterfinals.”
On the same note, PLDT is also looking for a crucial win to improve its 4-7 win-loss record.
Power Hitters’ coach Roger Gorayeb said they have to be more consistent, knowing that Daquis, Mylene Paat, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Robins-Hardy are all capable of shining when the game is on the line.
“Cignal is really a tough and veteran team. We have to be at our best if we want to win over them,” said Gorayeb, who will bank on Grethcel Soltones, Aiko Urdas, Jerrili Malabanan, Sasa Devanadera and Jasmine Nabor.