PVL: Red-hot Cignal is one win away from pool sweep after sending reeling Petro Gazz to third straight loss in Reinforced Conference

It’s a new month but the same winning ways for the Cignal HD Spikers.  

 The first day of August brought awesome victory vibes anew for the HD Spikers thanks a sweeping 25-19, 25-19, and 25-22 win over the struggling Petro Gazz Angels to regain solo lead in Pool B of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

 In a 2022 finals rematch, Cignal fended off a late Petro Gazz rally in the final set on their way on adding the Angels to their latest victims after commanding wins against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, Zus Coffee Thunderbelles, and the Capital1 Solar Spikers. 

Petro Gazz refused to surrender in the third set as Brooke Van Sickle scored on a cross-court attack to tie things up at 21-apiece.

 After a BVS service error, import MJ Perez pounded the ball over the outstretched arms of veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Wilma Salas, and then sealed the sweeping win with a clear-cut attack in their first match point.

 Perez paced Cignal with a team-high 20 points, built on 16 attacks, three blocks, and an ace while Jackie Acuña continued her stellar play this conference with eight points to earn the Player of the Game honors.

 Meanwhile, Van Sickle's new conference-high of 28 points was put to waste as Salas chipped in 14 markers for the Angels, who are holding a 1-3 win-loss card and currently sit at fifth place in Pool B.

Earlier, the HD Spikers overcame a five-point deficit in the second set as Perez and veteran hitter Ces Molina joined forces for a 16-11 lead. 

 After a Van Sickle attack that made it 19-23, Acuña scored back-to-back points off a towering block and a booming ace to give Cignal a commanding 2-0 set lead. 

Behind an impressive sweep, the HD Spikers managed to just commit six unforced errors throughout the match, a new PVL record. 

 The loss continued to pile up for the two-time defending champion Angels, who started the conference on a high before suffering setbacks against the Akari Chargers, the Solar Spikers, and now the HD Spikers. 

 Cignal aims for a pool sweep against fellow unbeaten squad Akari on Tuesday, August 6 in the same venue, while Petro Gazz eyes to stop the bleeding with another heavyweight contender in Choco Mucho up next.