HD Spikers,Cargo Movers start title duel

MANILA, Philippines — Destiny versus redemption is the name of the game as Cinderella team HD Cignal and the F2 Logistics team out to reclaim lost glory clash in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference best-of-three finals that fires off tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

It’s a showdown between a consistent title contender out to improve on back-to-back runner-up finishes and a surprise finalist riding the momentum of a stirring post-elims romp.

Hostilities begin at 6 p.m. with both squads looking to strike the first blow in the short series. Deposed champ Petron and Foton face off at 4 p.m. for third place.

The HD Spikers gun for a first All-Filipino title since joining the league in 2013 while the Cargo Movers seek a first championship since the last of their three title hauls in the 2017 Invitationals.

A mere fifth placer in the double-round prelims, Cignal reached the finals in defying the odds versus favored opponents Generika-Ayala in the quarterfinals and Petron in the semifinals. Curiously, the HD Spikers were swept by these teams in the prelims.

But the HD Spikers turned the tables on Generika Ayala and Petron when it mattered.

Led by veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Ann Daquis and breakthrough playmaker Alohi Robins-Hardy, the HD Spikers wiped away the Blaze Spikers’ twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

The HD Spikers survived two do-or-die five-setters over the Blaze Spikers for a monumental victory that would be remembered as the biggest upset ever in Superliga history.

Now, the HD Spikers are on a collision course against another team they’ve yet to beat this conference, but coach Edgar Barroga hopes they can sustain their Cinderella run.