Nxled braces for Cignal’s wrath
‘Everyone’s working hard, sticking with our system, trusting the process, and making sure they’re in tip-top shape all the time.’
Cignal tries to connect a fourth straight win for the solo lead against Nxled as the PVL All-Filipino Conference makes a stop in Cebu.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL
Games today:
(Minglanilla Sports Complex)
4 p.m. — Nxled vs Cignal
6:30 p.m. — Capital1 vs Galeries Tower
Unbeaten Cignal eyes to keep its hot streak going and reclaim the solo lead against winless but hungry Nxled in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today at the Minglanilla Sports Complex in Cebu.
Action erupts at 4 p.m. followed by the 6:30 p.m. headliner between Capital1 and listless Galeries Tower.
The HD Spikers are riding the crest of a three-game roll and are tied with defending champion Creamline on top of the standings.
Cignal’s battle-tested system and the maturity of its holdovers have been key to the club’s early success in the six-month all-local contest despite the departure of most of its veterans during the offseason.
Last week, the Shaq delos Santos-mentored squad blasted Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, following its dominating victories over Farm Fresh and Chery Tiggo.
Delos Santos attributes the HD Spikers’ undefeated run to their players embracing the challenge of moving on from the loss of key pieces.
“I’d say everything starts with our investment in our training. Everyone’s fully committed to what we want them to do. Honestly, it’s not easy because we have to work with what we have left right now,” he said.
So, Delos Santos is not worried about his wards led by Ces Molina, Vanie Gandler, Jackie Acuna, Ria Meneses and top setter Gel Cayuna, who tallied 16 excellent sets and 11 points last game, getting too complacent against the Chameleons.
“Everyone’s working hard, sticking with our system, trusting the process, and making sure they’re in tip-top shape all the time. So, during games, I’m sure they already know what they should do and how to do it.”
Nxled has yet to win a game in the season-opening conference after four starts just like the Highrisers.
The Chameleons absorbed a 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-18, defeat at the hands of the Solar Spikers last week.
Chiara Permentilla, who dropped 23 in a lost cause the last time out, will need more support to snap Nxled’s funk. Krich Macaslang is expected to play an inspired game in front of her fellow Cebuanos as the PVL visits the Queen City of the South.
Meanwhile, Cebuana stars winger Dimdim Pacres of Galeries Tower and Capital1 libero Rica Rivera are out to help their respective squads while giving fans in their home province a memorable experience with pulsating volleyball action.
The Solar Spikers eye to start a winning streak after ending a three-game slide while the Highrisers seek to halt a four-match slump.
