Action between Cignal HD and Kondohgumi Hyogo in the semifinals of the 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference, December 11, 2024 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
MANILA -- Cignal HD cruised past guest team Kondohgumi Hyogo, 25-11, 25-8, 25-18 victory, to secure the second and last ticket to the Finals of the 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The HD Spikers thus set up another championship showdown with rivals Criss Cross, who had earlier ended the title aspirations of Savouge with a four-set victory.
READ: Criss Cross takes down Savouge to punch Finals ticket
It was also a bounce-back win for Cignal HD, as they were coming off a four-set defeat to the King Crunchers last Sunday.
"Actually 'pag dating nung game namin against Criss Cross pagod na lahat 'eh. Pero 'yung game na 'yun is more on mind eh. Mas malakas dapat 'yung utak kaysa sa katawan. So, given pagod na 'yung katawan, 'yung utak at puso dapat mas nagtatrabaho," said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
The HD Spikers displayed their fiercest form in the second set, unleashing 16 attack points while limiting Kondohgumi Hyogo to just five. In the third set, Hyogo showed more resistance, keeping the score tight at 11-12 and 13-16.
However, Cignal quickly regained control, capitalizing on their opponents' inconsistent serves to reestablish dominance. The set – and the match – ended on a sour note for Hyogo, as Cignal secured their final three points off the Japanese team's service errors.
All thirteen offensive players scored at least a point for the HD Spikers paced by Jau Umandal with 16 points on 15 attacks, while Martin Bugaoan was solid at the net with eight markers, three coming from blocks.
Kaito Onomichi and Takata Akamatu finished with five markers each for the young Japanese side.
Cignal closed the semifinals with a 3-1 record.
The one-game finale between Criss Cross and Cignal is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
With both finalists securing their spots, Friday's final day of preliminary matches has become non-bearing. The bronze-medal match has also been confirmed, with DN Steel FEU and Savouge set to battle regardless of the results of their clash at 4 p.m. and the Criss Cross-Hyogo encounter at 6 p.m.