Import Erica Wilson and local star Mylene Paat delivered the goods as Cignal swept PLDT Home Fibr, 25-22, 27-25, 25-19, to earn its first win in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix yesterday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Wilson shone bright, finishing with 21 points off 15 kills, five service aces and a block for the HD Spikers, who bounced back from a sluggish start in this prestigious women’s club tournament that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.
Paat, a national team mainstay, chipped in 12 spikes, five blocks and a pair of aces for 19 points while Rachel Anne Daquis and Anastasia Artemeva delivered nine and five markers, respectively.
“We adjusted Ana‘s position. At first she was hesitant, but she was very professional and did her best and followed my instructions,” said Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga, who moved his Azerbaijani guest player to the middle spot to give Paat a bigger room to operate at the opposite.
“For Erica, I don’t have any problem because she will always do what she has to for the team.”
The HD Spikers erased a 7-11 deficit in the third set as they unloaded six straight points for a 13-11 turn around before PLDT kept them within three, 22-19.
But Paat came to the rescue nailing a strong hit and back-to-back aces to seal their first victory in this tourney that also has Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Hotel Sogo and Data Project as sponsors.
Lazard carried the cudgels with 15 points while other import Kendra Dahlke and Shola Alvarez added eight and seven markers, respectively, for PLDT, which fell to 0-2 win-loss card.”‹
