Streaking Cignal, Petron renew rivalry

MANILA, Philippines — After securing Final Four berths, Cignal and Petron put their immaculate slates on the line when they lock horns in the penultimate preliminary playdate of the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Both the HD Spikers and the Blaze Spikers are coming off impressive straight-set wins the other day which they aim to continue when they collide at 2 p.m. for the right to secure the No.1 spot in Pool C entering the semis of this shortened Invitational tourney serving as build-up for Philippine team for the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games

But it will be more than just a battle for top spot but an exciting rematch of their semifinals duel in the previous All-Filipino Conference.

Then up against the top-seeded and two-time All-Filipino conference champion Petron, the No. 5 Cignal defied the odds and erased a twice-to-win handicap to dethrone the Blaze Spikers and eventually finish second to champion F2 Logistics.

The HD Spikers’ impressive All-Filipino run rubbed off all the way through the Invitational Conference where they are yet to drop a match.

Against Petron, however, coach Edgar Barroga warned his wards of complacency as their five-game winning streak holds no weight in front of the Blaze Spikers.

“I always remind my players to learn a thing or two in our past games. But I also remind them that the present is more important,” he said after Cignal made short work of PLDT the other day, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20.

Shaq delos Santos shares the same view, reminding his wards to forget their epic collapse last conference and just focus on the task at hand, which is to slowly get back to their throne.

 “What happened in the past conference no longer matters to us. What’s important at this point is what lies ahead of us,” said Delos Santos.

Meanwhile, F2 Logistics try to secure the top spot in Pool D that would also formalize its Final Four entry when it goes up against Generika-Ayala at 4 p.m.

At 6 p.m., PLDT and Marinerang Pilipina collide in a bid to end their Invitational Conference campaign on a good note.