Cignal HD puts up a wall against Jude Garcia of Criss Cross during their 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference match on November 3, 2024 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. PVL Media
MANILA -- Cignal HD squandered a two-set advantage but recovered in time to deny Criss Cross' comeback in the 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference on Sunday night.
The HD Spikers regained their bearings in the clutch to register a 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 18-25, 15-11 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, improving to 3-1 in the tournament.
Four players scored in double-digits for Cignal HD, led by Louie Ramirez with 19 points while Jau Umandal and JM Ronquillo each had 12 markers.
"Happy kami na nanalo pero lumalabas 'yung nagiging problema namin for the past games na alam namin mananalo na kami, tapos lumalabas 'yung complacency namin. 'Yun 'yung kailangan pa naming i-work out," admitted Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
READ: FEU erases 2-set deficit to stun VNS
READ: La Salle makes it back-to-back wins, crushes Chichi DHTSI
Criss Cross averted a straight sets loss thanks to a clutch hit from Jude Garcia in Set 3, and rode that momentum to claim a comfortable win in the fourth set.
But the HD Spikers pounced on the King Crunchers' errors in the fifth set to build a 9-4 advantage, which proved enough to withstand their rivals' final push.
A block on a Jude Garcia attempt put Cignal HD at match point, but they allowed Criss Cross to hang around thanks to a service fault by Ronquillo and an attack error by Umandal.
It was ultimately Mark Calado who converted the crosscourt attack that wrapped up the match after two hours and 28 minutes.
Garcia torched Cignal HD for 35 points on 33 kills in the match, but Chu Njigha was the only other Criss Cross player in double-digits with 11 points.
The King Crunchers fell to 2-1 in the competition.