BY ABBY TORALBA
DEFENDING champion Cignal ripped Santa Rosa City 25-17, 25-15, 25-22 yesterday in the opening match of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena.
Middle blocker JP Bugaoan led the HD Spikers, who won the 2019 Open Conference three years ago, with eight points off five attacks and three blocks.
Open hitters Marck Espejo and Wendel Miguel also scored seven and six kills, respectively, for Cignal which launched its title defense on the return of the league after an almost three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
“We came prepared for this game, for this conference. Siguro sa lahat ng club teams, kami iyong medyo pinaka-matagal na nagensayo dito sa conference na ito. For the longest time, almost three years na walang liga, sobrang challenging para sa amin sa mga coaches, players, kasi sobrang uncertain kung meron ba talagang men’s volleyball (league), lahat naka-focus sa women’s,” HD Spikers coach Dexter Clamor said.
