HD Spikers eye fourth win as PVL goes to Cebu


At a glance

  • Cignal hopes to build on its strong momentum as it aims for a fourth straight win against Nxled when the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference goes to Cebu on Saturday, Dec. 7.


Cignal hopes to build on its strong momentum as it aims for a fourth straight win against Nxled when the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference goes to Cebu on Saturday, Dec. 7.

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Cignal stakes its unbeaten run against winless Nxled. (PVL Images)

Game is at 4 p.m. at the Minglanilla Sports Complex with the HD Spikers seeking to protect their pristine record and claim the solo lead in this record-breaking six-month conference.

Also out to seek a follow-up victory is Capital1 as it collides with Galeries Tower in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap.

The Solar Spikers are coming off a morale-boosting four-set win over the Chameleons last week that finally snapped their three-game slump for a 1-3 card.

The Highrisers, meanwhile, have yet to claim their first win after four unsuccessful tries -- the last against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles last Thursday, Nov. 28, where they yielded in straight sets.

Still, Cebuano fans are expected to be treated with a thrilling showdown with Capital1 parading its hard-hitting spikers in Heather Guino-o and rookie Leila Cruz, and Galeries Tower boasting a determined frontline composed of France Ronquillo and Roselle Baliton.

But the main attraction is on the Cignal-Nxled tussle, with the HD Spikers only one of the two teams -- the other, being the Creamline Cool Smashers -- that remain unscathed as the tournament goes to its fifth week of action.

Skippered by Ces Molina, the HD Spikers are expected to have Jackie Acuna, Riri Meneses, Gel Cayuna and Vanie Gandler at the forefront of their attack after all scored twin figures in their tough match victory against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

Cignal hopes the weeklong respite would do them good as it needs the energy it could get in facing Nxled, a team eager to claw its way out of the cellar with its 0-4 mark.

Coach Ettore Guidetti is still searching for the right combination to power the Chameleons, but would need more than motivation to end their losing spell.

Chiara Permentilla, who scored 23 points against Capital1 the last time, remains at the chore of Nxled’s assault, but would need more support from her teammates.