The Cignal HD Spikers. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – The Cignal HD Spikers claimed their first win in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after powering past the Akari Chargers in four sets, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Grethcel Soltones-charged Akari could not handle the heavy firepower of the HD Spikers, who were bannered by Vanie Gandler (19 points), Ces Molina and Roselyn Doria (16 points), and Riri Meneses (13 points).

"'Yung first set namin, nag-relax kami sa endgame. but ang good thing, after that set, naka-recover kami," said coach Shaq delos Santos during the postgame press conference.

From a 19-all deadlock in the opening chapter, the Chargers orchestrated a 4-0 run, capped by a Toni Rose Basas attack which was set up by Gel Cayuna.

Cignal got a bit of hope after Soltones and Dindin Santiago-Manabat committed service and attack errors, but it was also them who nabbed Set 1 to the pink jerseys.

However, Akari seemed to have lost all steam after a gutsy opener, because the next frames were not even close to the surging HD Spikers.

Despite their brief preparation in the off-season, Gandler was happy to nail the win in four sets.

"It feels good of course 'cause preparation time was very short but I'm happy that the team was able to come together and make up to that first set," Gandler said.

"It's normal, first-game jitters, but I could see how much we all wanted to win and to fight," she added.

Soltones and Santiago-Manabat held the fort for Akari, who topped up 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Ced Domingo only had two points in her debut for the Chargers.

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