What began as a lopsided affair quickly turned into a gripping showdown, but Kobe Shinwa held its nerve and displayed remarkable composure under pressure to thwart Cignal’s spirited comeback, escaping with a 25-7, 25-18, 19-25, 27-25 victory in the penultimate prelims playdate of the PVL Invitational Thursday, August 28, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Japanese squad looked poised for a straight-set rout after blitzing through the first two frames with their speed, precision, and superior ball movement. But Cignal roared back in Set 3, leaning on aggressive net play and sharper service pressure to slow down the Kobe Shinwa offense and steal a set.

Resilience shines in the fourth set

The fourth set became a true test of Kobe Shinwa’s character. Facing three set points at 22-24, the Japanese young guns refused to blink. A crucial block touch call by Nagisa Komatsuda and a Cignal miscue tied the set, only for the HD Spikers to regain set point through a net fault challenge.

Arisu Ishikawa answered with a clutch power swipe before Kokoro Yasuma stepped up. With setter Sakura Furuta orchestrating the offense, Yasuma drilled a down-the-line rocket, then sealed the win with another thunderous hit after a clean defensive stand on Erika Santos. The dagger closed out the one-hour, 38-minute battle.

Komatsuda led Kobe Shinwa with 21 points off 19 attacks, along with 11 excellent receptions. Ishikawa added 15, Yasuma 12, and Reira Miyazaki 11. Furuta also outdueled her counterpart, tallying 22 excellent sets compared to Gel Cayuna’s 18.

Though outblocked 1-12, Kobe Shinwa outgunned the HD Spikers, 72-43, using relentless pace and smart shot selection in crunch time.

Cignal’s rally falls short

Despite falling short, Cignal finally found its rhythm in Set 3. From a 12-14 deficit, the HD Spikers unleashed a 9-1 surge behind Roselyn Doria Aquino and Heather Guino-o to secure the frame.

That breakthrough energized Cignal in Set 4. Aquino and Angeli Acuna combined with Santos to take control at 16-13, with Doria unstoppable on quick plays. But Kobe Shinwa clawed back with well-placed drop balls and sharp counters, eventually outlasting the HD Spikers in a tense finish.

The win lifted Kobe Shinwa to 3-1, tying Chery Tiggo for second place and setting up a crucial do-or-die encounter with the Crossovers. Cignal dropped to 1-4, all but ending its campaign. Doria starred with 16 points, including five blocks, while Santos chipped in 11.

In the end, Kobe Shinwa’s poise and depth beyond their years carried them through — a performance that not only saved them from a fifth set but also solidified their standing as a resilient contender in the PVL Invitational.