CIGNAL BOOST — Gandler powers HD Spikers to bronze finish

Cignal came back from a set down to finish off Chery Tiggo, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24, to cop the bronze medal in Game 2 of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference best-of-three battle for third series Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The HD Spikers turned to prized rookie Vanie Gandler and the veteran duo of Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga to get past the tough challenge given by the Crossovers for their fourth bronze medal in seven conferences.

Cignal had to fight hard for each point throughout the match, even the game-clinching point took some time to be reviewed as Chery Tiggo called a last-ditched video challenge that was eventually waived off by the referees.

"No. 1, thank you Lord, we survived this. Yeah, we got the bronze medal but hopefully, it will glitter a different color in the next conferences," Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said.

Gandler finished her pro debut season with 22 points — all from kills — including the through the block kill that pushed the HD Spikers at match point advantage, 25-24.

"I'm just very, very, very happy because I know how tired we are. I know how much work we've put in and we've sacrificed so much," Gandler said.

"Today, I really felt the fight from each player, each coach, up to the management. So I'm very thankful."

Molina got 14 points while Gonzaga had 12 points, 11 digs and seven excellent receptions for Cignal, which also won in four sets in Game 1 last Thursday.

The HD Spikers recovered from a shaky start but still needed to hang tough as the Crossovers kept the game close.

Gonzaga sparked a decisive four unanswered points to turn Cignal's 17-18 deficit to a 21-18 lead. Chery Tiggo closed in, 23-22, before Gandler smashed a kill for match point, 24-22.

Eya Laure and Pauline Gaston saved two match points to force a deuce but Gandler shot back with a spike. Laure then smacked her attack long but the Crossovers called for a foot fault challenge on Gonzaga from a sequence prior to Laure's attack error.

It took officials around eight minutes to deliberate on the challenge but eventually decided to deny it as Chery Tiggo failed to sound the buzzer when it called for the late review.

Laure fired 17 points and had eight digs in a lost cause while Mylene Paat had 16 points.

Ces Robles posted 13 points while Gaston got 11 for the Crossovers, who closed their campaign with six straight losses.