Cignal and Generika-Ayala chase the fourth spot when they clash in a pivotal match in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The all-important battle is set at 6 p.m. following the 4 p.m. collision between Marinerang Pilipina and PLDT Home Fibr in this prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport.
Sitting at the third spot with idle Foton with a 7-5 win-loss record, Generika-Ayala is in dire need of a victory to improve its standing entering the crucial stretch of the double-round preliminaries of this battle that also has ESPN5 and Kapatid TV5 as broadcast partners.
But the Lifesavers’ mission of claiming the third spot is easier said that done as Cignal is also hunting a crucial win to climb the ranking for a better spot in the quarterfinals.
The Lifesavers will likely continue to miss skipper Angeli Araneta, who is still nursing a left knee injury.
Despite missing Araneta, Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain combined for 30 of the Generika-Ayala’s 51 kills beating Sta. Lucia, 25-17, 20-25, 25-14, 25-9, late Thursday night.
Ria Meneses was also instrumental with 11 points, while Mean Mendez filled in the big shoes of Araneta and had eight points.
Generika-Ayala head coach Sherwin Meneses wants his wards to keep their focus to the adjustment while their team captain is still out.
“We have to move on from Araneta for now because our remaining games are crucial,” said Meneses.
“Our game against Cignal is very important to keep our chance at the third spot. But we have to focus on the team’s adjustment playing without Araneta first.”
Cignal is on a roll winning three straight games to keep its chances alive for the No. 3 spot capped by a 25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 25-21 victory over Foton also last Thursday.
“We will prepare well for them like what we did to Foton,” said Cignal head coach Edgar Barroga. “We already learned from our mistakes the last time we took on Generika. And now we will work harder.”
Barroga continues to bank on Rachel Anne Daquis, versatile setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, Mylene Paat, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Jheck Dionela to extend their winning streak to four games.