Cignal ends slump, secures first battle for third seat

Cignal arrested a two-game slide with a mighty rebound win over Vietnam's Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh, 25-13, 25-15, 25-20, to secure a seat in the battle for bronze in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday night.

Ces Molina scattered 16 spikes, two aces and a kill block for 19 points she laced with eight digs for the HD Spikers, who will have to wait for their third place opponent.

Cignal closed its semifinals campaign with a 2-3 carryover win-loss record tied with sister team PLDT. However, the HD Spikers hold a superior earned points over the High Speed Hitters, 7-6.

F2 Logistics, which sports a 1-3 card, still has a chance to clinch the last bronze medal showdown seat if it wins in straight or four sets against listless Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh on Friday.

The battle for bronze is on Sunday.

Defending champion Creamline and Japan's Kurashiki Ablaze face off in the gold medal match.

Setter Gel Cayuna tallied 23 excellent sets as Cignal peppered the Vietnamese with 51 attack points.

The guest team absorbed its fourth loss in as many outings.

Nguyen Huong scored 12 points while skipper Le Xuan got 10 as the only two Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh players in double figures in the 84-minute match.