Cignal woke up from a two-set slumber and outhustled Choco Mucho, 18-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10, to move closer to the finals of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Thursday night, Dec. 7.

The HD Spikers banked on their all-around plays in the pivotal fifth frame to crawl back from a 0-2 set deficit and take Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinal affair.

The victory not only put them one win away from booking a finals berth, but also snapped Choco Mucho’s imposing 10-game winning streak dating back Oct. 19.

It also avenged their 25-21-, 25-19, 25-18 eliminations loss to the Flying Titans last Oct. 26.

Skipper Ces Molina exploded anew for Cignal, pumping in 23 points built on 20 attacks, two blocks and one ace, while veteran lefty spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga also spelled the difference by firing 16 points including those crucial smashes in the crunch.

“We know na hindi nasunod yung mga gusto naming gawin, pero after set, na-realize namin na kailangan naming trabahuhin lahat. At nagresulta naman nang maganda,” said Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos.

The HD Spikers slowly built their momentum entering the fifth set, where they took a quick 4-1 lead before the Flying Titans retaliated and kept the game close.

Back-to-back points from Sisi Rondina and Isa Molde gave Choco Mucho a close 10-9 advantage, but that proved to be its last stand as Cignal tightened its net defense, all while also working on their attacks.

An off-the-block spike from Gonzaga, a crosscourt kill from Molina and a quick attack from Riri Meneses gave Cignal a 12-10 lead, before a lucky ace from Vanie Gandler, which grazed the tip of the net, put them at 13-10.

Rattled, Molde’s attempt to stop the bleeding went futile as her down-the-line spike went wide, allowing the HD Spikers to move at matchpoint, 14-10.

Not wasting their time, Molina and Meneses double-blocked Kat Tolentino that sealed their victory.

Gandler also finished with 17 points for Cignal, while Gel Cayuna distributed the ball well and delivered 29 excellent sets on top of nine points -- four from the service area.

Cignal’s victory overshadowed the efforts of Rondina, Tolentino, Molde, Maddie Madayag and Cherry Nunag, who finished in twin figures for Choco Mucho.

Rondina topscored with 19 points, Tolentino added 16, Molde contributed 11, and Madayag and Nunag posted 10 apiece.

Cignal tries to close the series on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the same venue.