LIBERO Christine Agno saves the ball during the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference game against Cignal at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor City last night. Roman Prospero Games Tuesday:

BACOOR CITY – Cignal displayed its power early on before hanging tough down the stretch to essay a 25-10, 26-24, 25-18 victory over Smart-Army in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Conference last night at the STRIKE Gym here.

One of the country’s best spikers, Rachel Anne Daquis waxed hot down the stretch to lead the HD Spikers to their second straight win in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

Daquis finished with 13 points built on seven spikes, four blocks and a pair of service aces while anchoring the defense with five digs to put the HD Spikers two wins away from gaining an outright semifinal seat in the midseason conference that also has Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

“As I’ve I said before, you’ll see a different Daquis. She rotates and spikes everywhere. She is really confident in everything she does,” said Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga.

“I told her that this (Smart-Army) was her former team, they will target you so we practiced her reception.”

Mylene Paat was also instrumental with 12 points built on seven kills, four blocks and an ace while Rapril Aguilar and Janine Navarro added five markers apiece while providing the clutch points in the second and third sets, respectively.

“This is how I wanted them to play,” Barroga said. “I think they already adjusted, their trust in each other is back, and they’re confident.”

After a 15-point rout in the first set, the HD Spikers had to labor their way through the late rally of the Giga Hitters in the next two sets.

Cignal squandered a 17-12 spread as Smart-Army rallied back to tie it at 20 off an ace from Alina Bicar.

But Aguilar came to the rescue scoring back-to-back hits for a 23-20 cushion before Paat put the HD Spikers at set point, 24-22, en route to the victory.

Nene Bautista and Dimdim Pacres delivered six points apiece for the Giga Hitters, who absorbed their first defeat after two matches in Pool B.