Import Erica Wilson and local star Mylene Paat delivered the goods as Cignal swept PLDT Home Fibr, 25-22, 27-25, 25-19, for its first win in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Wilson shone with 21 points on 15 kills, five service aces and a block for the HD Spikers, who bounced back from a sluggish start in the women’s club tournament that has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners.
Paat, a national team mainstay, chipped in 12 spikes, five blocks and two aces for 19 points, while Rachel Anne Daquis and Anastasia Artemeva delivered nine and five points, respectively.
“We adjusted Ana‘s position. At first she was hesitant, but she was very professional and did her best and followed my instructions,” said Cignal Head Coach Edgar Barroga, who moved his Azerbaijani guest player to the middle spot to give Paat bigger room to operate at the opposite.
“For Erica, I don’t have any problem because she will always do what she has to for the team.”
The HD Spikers erased a 7-11 deficit in the third set, as they unloaded six straight points for a 13-11 turnaround before PLDT threatened at 22-19.
But Paat came to the rescue with a strong hit and back-to-back aces to seal their first victory.
Grace Lazard carried the cudgels with 15 points, while other import Kendra Dahlke and Shola Alvarez added eight and seven points, respectively, for PLDT, which fell to 0-2 won-lost.