The Cignal Super Spikers rallied behind Louie Ramirez’s 23-point explosion to complete a five-set comeback victory over Alpha Insurance in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational.
The Cignal Super Spikers showed their championship resolve once again, clawing back from the brink to outlast Alpha Insurance, 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11, notching their second straight win in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday night, October 29, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
After a quiet first three sets, Louie Ramirez came alive when it mattered most, unleashing a dominant late-game performance that turned the tide in Cignal’s favor.
The Alas Pilipinas standout finished with 23 points, including 10 in the deciding fifth set, on 20 attacks and three blocks.
“Nagmatyag talaga ako nung nilabas ako,” Ramirez said after the match. “Sabi ko, 'pag pinasok ako sa Set 4, tutulungan ko ang team. At bumawi talaga ako.”
The Super Spikers found themselves trailing in the match after a sluggish start. However, Ramirez’s resurgence in the fourth set helped them regain rhythm and extend the match.
With the team down 3-6 in the fifth frame, the high-flying open spiker fueled a 6-0 rally, flipping the score to 9-6. Fittingly, it was Ramirez who sealed the victory, soaring for the match-clinching spike that capped the two-hour thriller.
“Unang-una, salamat sa mga coaches ko for their trust,” he said. “Kahit pangit laro ko sa umpisa, sabi ko lang pagbubutihin ko para hindi masira ang tiwala ng coaches at teammates ko.”
Team captain JP Bugaoan provided steady leadership and net defense, tallying 15 points on 11 attacks and four of the team’s 18 kill blocks, while JM Ronquillo and Josafat chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Despite the loss, Alpha Insurance continued to impress in only its second game of the conference. Motol paced the squad with 18 points and 33 excellent receptions, while Casas and Barbie San Andres added 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
Cignal improved to 2-0, while Alpha Insurance dropped to 1-1 in the standings.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.