By: Jerod Orcullo
Saints and Lattes Letran suffers a loss against Cignal. Photo courtesy of Spikers' Turf.
Saint and Lattes Letran were dismantled by the world-class talents of the Cignal in three sets, 17-25, 14-25, 23-25, in the clash for Pool C supremacy in the Spiker’s Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila yesterday.
Cignal’s star-studded lineup proved to be too much for the up and coming Letran squad who was left without Vince Himzon, the team’s top scorer in their three-set victory versus the Santa Rosa Lions on October 25, out with a flu.
Bembem Bautista followed his 14-point outing against Sta. Rosa with seven points from five kills and two service aces, backed by Ambro Ambrocio and Rylie Sta Maria who had seven points of their own.
Sta Maria commenced the scoring for the rookie-laden unit off a clean cross court hit but Cignal quickly answered with a furious attack down the line courtesy of Wendel Miguel.
Coach Dextor Clamor’s squad looked to establish their dominance early jumping to run after run only halted by their untimely errors which allowed Letran to stay within striking distance, however Cignal got their act together and proceeded to emerge victorious in the first set, 17-25.
It was more of the same story for the contest as Cignal fielded its second six led by star-setter Geuel Asia with plenty of offensive weapons at their disposal with the likes of Lloyd Josafat and JP Bogaoan who dominated the defense of Letran with their aerial flurries, 14-25.
With their backs against the wall, Bautista, Ambrocio, and Sta Maria exhausted all that was left in the tank as the young team seeked to prove a point against the six-time Spiker’s Turf Champion.
Letran enjoyed their largest margin of the game after a service ace from Sta Maria, 8-3, yet the experience of Cignal ensured that the intramuros-based squad would not get too far ahead.
Both teams slugged it out throughout the deciding set with the boy’s in green clinging onto the lead for the majority of the set, with the win in the horizon Chu Njigha stepped up big time to clinch the sweep for the white shirts, 23-25.
Team Captain Ysay Marasigan was crowned Player of the Game with eight points from four attacks, three blocks, and an ace.
Saint and Lattes Letran will aim to get back into the win column as they face St Gerrard Construction - Benilde on Wednesday, November 15 at the Paco Arena in Manila at 5:00 PM.