MANILA (UPDATED) – The Cignal HD Spikers captured the bronze in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference after toppling the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Sunday.

Cignal eked out a 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 victory over the Cargo Movers to finish the midseason conference on the podium at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga teamed up for the HD Spikers with 19 and 18 points, respectively, to avenge their only loss in Pool B from the Cargo Movers.

Meanwhile, setter Gel Cayuna earned another Best of the Player nod after dishing out 30 excellent sets in the match aside from six points, including three service aces.

This is the second straight time that Cignal clinched third place in the Invitational Conference.

“Yung bronze medal nakuha namin and sobrang happy kasi ginusto namin ito lahat. Para sa amin, napaka-importante nito. Ito yung pinagkaloob namin kaya tatanggapin namin ng buong puso,” head coach Shaq delos Santos said.

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F2 Logistics kept the score tight in the fourth frame, 8-9, until Roselyn Doria took over in the ensuing plays, dropping six of her 10 total points in the fiery 8-1 salvo of Cignal, resulting in a 17-9 separation.

The Cargo Movers would go for a mini 4-0 run, sparked by a crosscourt spike by Ivy Lacsina to trim their deficit, 13-17, but Doria unleashed a quick hit immediately after their timeout then Gonzaga went for a strong hit, 19-13.

Vanie Gandler pummeled an attack off the defenders’ hands followed by a soft tap from Jacq Acuna to put the HD Spikers at match point, 24-17. Acuna put an end to the game with another middle hit that went straight to the hands of Aby Maraño.

Cignal finished the conference with a 7-3 win-loss slate while F2 had a 5-5 card, including three losses in the round-robin semifinals.

With the game tied at 1-1, Cignal held on to the advantage as Gonzaga used Ara Galang’s hands to give the team a 17-13 gap.

Gandler went for a down-the-line kill before Molina caught the baseline off a spike to create a 20-15 breather. F2 moved closer after back-to-back errors by Cignal but Chin Basas’ offspeed hit ignited a three consecutive points, 23-18.

A service error by Maraño and a put away spike of Doria gave Cignal a commanding 2-1 lead.

Lacsina powered F2 with 16 points while Maraño added 10. But Myla Pablo and Majoy Baron were contained well by Cignal, limiting them to four and five, respectively.