Cignal showcased its championship pedigree once again, overcoming a determined Capital1 squad with a composed yet relentless performance to secure a 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15 victory in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Play-In at the Philsports Arena on Thursday night.
Beyond securing a crucial win, the HD Spikers redeemed themselves after a stunning four-set loss to the Galeries Tower Highrisers in their knockout qualifying match. That setback relegated third-seeded Cignal to the Play-In tournament, putting its quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy.
Determined to bounce back, Cignal displayed renewed confidence and grit, shaking off a second-set stumble to overpower the Solar Spikers.
“We’re happy that we were able to regain our confidence, and this is what we’ll carry moving forward into our future games,” said libero Dawn Catindig, who earned Best Player of the Game honors after tallying 18 excellent digs in a stellar defensive performance.
Despite missing key veterans, Cignal proved that quality triumphs over quantity. Rising stars stepped up, showcasing the team’s depth and adaptability.
Ishie Lalongisip, embracing a bigger role, played a pivotal part in stabilizing Cignal’s offense and floor defense. She backed Vanie Gandler’s team-high 21 points and Roselyn Doria-Aquino’s 18 markers with 15 points of her own.
Jovelyn Fernandez chipped in eight points, including the match-clinching hit, while Chamberlaine Cunada and Caroline Santos contributed two points apiece, proving their potential in high-pressure moments.
“Trusting each other was key – we knew we could bounce back and recover,” Catindig added.
With their one-hour, 57-minute victory—highlighted by long rallies and intense defensive sequences—Cignal took the early lead in Pool A, boosting its quarterfinal campaign. The win also matched Chery Tiggo’s strong start in Pool B, as both teams aim to top their respective groups for an outright QF berth.
Despite 28 unforced errors—six more than their opponents—Cignal dominated statistically, outclassing Capital1 in attacks (63-45), blocks (6-2), and aces (6-3), proving its firepower and defensive presence were enough to overcome occasional lapses.
After securing a tightly contested first set, Cignal was caught off guard by Capital1’s resurgence in the second frame. The Solar Spikers capitalized on Cignal’s errors and showcased remarkable defensive tenacity, forcing the HD Spikers into tough positions and leveling the match at one set apiece.
Sensing urgency, Cignal’s veterans took charge in the third set. The HD Spikers stormed ahead with early leads of 5-1, 16-9, and 23-16, powered by the sharp attacking of Lalongisip and Gandler and the quick plays of Doria-Aquino.
Although Capital1 fought to close the gap, Cignal’s firepower, defensive adjustments, and net presence proved too much to handle, stifling its opponents’ momentum.
Capital1 took early control of the fourth set, but Cignal quickly regained its footing. A clutch off-the-block hit by Gandler pushed the HD Spikers ahead 8-6, a lead they never relinquished.
From there, they steadily widened the gap, building a 13-8 advantage before extending it to 20-13.
Cignal then closed the match with a 5-2 finishing run, cementing its dominance.
The HD Spikers now set their sights on a quarterfinal berth as they take on the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Tuesday.
Trisha Genesis led Capital1 with 12 points but did not see action in the fourth set. Leila Cruz also scored 12 markers, while Des Clemente-De Guzman added seven points.
Shola Alvarez and Patty Orendain contributed seven and five points, respectively, for the Solar Spikers.
Despite showing promise, Capital1 struggled with errors and failed to sustain its momentum against Cignal’s relentless offense and improved defensive adjustments.
