Cignal’s Jau Umandal breaks through the triple block set by Sta. Elena-NU’s Jade Disquitado, Obed Mukaba and Leo Ordiales during their semis meeting last Dec. 6. Contributed photo
Cignal, Sta. Elena face off
THE gold standard of club and collegiate volleyball clash for one final time in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference as Cignal and Sta. Elena-NU dispute the crown at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The one-off Final is set at 5:30 p.m. with the HD Spikers aiming for a 10-match sweep of the tournament.
But the Nationals are also all primed for battle, seeking a payback at their semis tormentors. Cignal swept Sta. Elena-NU, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21, last Dec. 6.
JP Bugaoan, Jau Umandal, Wendel Miguel, Ysay Marasigan and EJ Casaña will spearhead the HD Spikers’ drive for a second consecutive title this year while Owa Retamar, Nico Almendras, Leo Ordiales, Jade Disquitado and Obed Mukaba will anchor the Nationals’ bid.
The status of Sta. Elena-NU’s injured top hitter Michaelo Buddin for the championship match is still uncertain.
Coach Dexter Clamor said that despite defeating the Nationals in the semis, the HD Spikers cannot afford complacency.
“Though we beat them in the semis, we will prepare more this time. We won’t be complacent and we will study them, analyze all their tendencies and formulate our strategy,” said Clamor.
Meanwhile, Sta. Elena-NU coach Dante Alinsunurin, who is also in the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference with Choco Mucho, underscored the need for his wards to stay focused.
He expressed the team’s desire to reclaim the Open Conference crown they secured in 2022, saying: “We just really need to focus again on what we’re doing. Of course, we want to win, to get the championship again but we need to work for it and prepare well.”
Japanese guest team Maruichi Hyogo and Saints & Lattes-Letran, meanwhile, collide for the bronze in their side of the duel at 3:30 p.m.
