HD Spikers sink Sailors, gain Spikers' Turf semis

MANILA, Philippines - Cignal TV, Inc. used its power game and solid serving to dominate Philippine Navy, 25-22, 25-13, 25-15, yesterday and clinch the first semifinals berth in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Ysay Marasigan came through with an all-around effort with 11 hits, seven on kills, three on blocks and one service ace to help propel the HD Spikers to their third straight victory and into the semis of the season opening conference of the country’s premier men’s league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

“We just want to start aggressive and get the confidence we will need in bigger battles ahead,” said Cignal coach Michael Carino, who also steered the team to the Reinforced Conference championship last year and St. Benilde to the NCAA women’s volley crown early this year. 

“We want to have that confidence because we have high hopes of winning another championship this conference,” he added.

Cignal’s 62-minute romp came on the heels of its tough wins over Bounty Fresh, 25-18, 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10, and Air Force, 25-16, 25-19, 21-25, 25-16. 

The Navymen fell to their second straight defeat.

Lorenzo Capate Jr. and Raymark Wook chipped in seven hits apiece for the HD Spikers, who finished with four aces and 43 attack points, 12 more than the Sailors. Alexis Faytaren, Herschel Ramos, Jeffrey Lansangan, Edmar Bonono, Jay dela Cruz and Bonjomar Castel combined for 25 points for Cignal.

Ruzzel Palisoc scored seven hits to pace Navy, which also got six points each from Nur Madsairi and Michael Zamora and four markers apiece from Wilbert Sapida and Kurl Rosete.