MANILA – Cignal HD Spikers survived a tough challenge from Cocolife Asset Managers to score a 20-25, 25-13, 25-14, 24-26, 17-15 win in the 2018 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Mylene Paat led the way with 17 points (15 attacks, one block and a service ace) while Rachel Anne Daquis and Honey Royce Tubino added 12 markers apiece for the HD Spikers (1-1).
After failing to close out the Asset Managers in the fourth set, the HD Spikers struggled early in the fifth set with a 3-6 deficit before slowly chipping into the advantage of their opponent.
Conversions from Daquis and Tubino allowed the HD Spikers to tie the count 15-all, and crucial errors from the Asset Managers allowed the HD Spikers to escape with the victory.
Kalei Mau led the way with 20 points on 16 attacks and four blocks, while Gyra Barroga and Justine Tiu added 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Asset Managers.
In the first game, the Foton Blue Energy Tornadoes kicked off its campaign with a 20-25, 25-21, 25-14, 19-25, 15-5 victory over the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers.
Missing the services of siblings Dindin and Jaja Santiago, the Tornadoes banked on veterans Carmina Aganon and Maika Ortiz in the fifth set as they built a 12-5 lead and did not look back.
Aganon topped the Tornadoes with 20 points, while Ortiz chipped in 12 markers for a 1-0 start. Ilongga Fiola Ceballos had 21 markers in a losing effort for the Lifesavers./PN
