Cignal proved 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 All-Filipino Conference Play-In at the Philsports Arena on Thursday night.
But more than just a crucial win, the victory served as redemption for the HD Spikers, who were left reeling after a shocking four-set defeat to the Galeries Tower Highrisers in their knockout qualifying match. That loss relegated the third-seeded Cignal to the Play-In tournament, putting their quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy.
Determined to bounce back, the HD Spikers showcased renewed confidence and unwavering grit, shaking off a second-set setback 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 in Filipino, who emerged as the Best Player of the Game after a stellar defensive performance, tallying 18 excellent digs.
Despite missing former key players, Cignal refused to be fazed, proving that quality triumphs over quantity. Stepping up to the challenge, new faces in the squad made a significant impact, highlighting the team’s depth and adaptability.
Ishie Lalongisip, embracing a bigger role in the absence of some veterans, played a crucial part in stabilizing Cignal’s offense and floor defense. She backed Vanie Gandler’s top-scoring 21 points and Roselyn Doria-Aquino’s 18 markers with 15 points.
Meanwhile, Jovelyn Fernandez finished with eight points, including the clinching blast, while Chamberlaine Cunada and Caroline Santos showed promise, contributing two points apiece and proving their potential in high-pressure situations.
“Trusting each other was key – we knew we could bounce back and recover,” added Catindig.
With their one-hour, 57-minute victory – marked by long rallies and intense defensive plays – Cignal took the early lead in Pool A, bolstering 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 quarterfinal berth.
Though facing manpower challenges, Cignal’s ability to adapt, rely on its younger talents and maintain its competitive edge proved pivotal. The HD Spikers are not just looking to survive – they’re aiming to dominate, making every match in the Play-In a high-stakes battle.
Capital1 was led by Trisha Genesis, who scored 12 points but did not see action in the fourth set. Leila Cruz also tallied 12 markers, while Des Clemente-De Guzman contributed seven points. Shola Alvarez and Patty Orendain chipped in seven and five points, respectively, for the Solar Spikers.
Despite struggling with 28 unforced errors—six more than their opponents—Cignal still dominated statistically. The HD Spikers overpowered Capital1 in attacks (63-45), blocks (6-2), and aces (6-3), proving their firepower and defensive presence were enough to overcome a few 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 displayed remarkable defensive tenacity, forcing the HD Spikers into difficult positions and leveling the match at one set apiece.
Sensing the urgency to regain control, Cignal’s veterans took charge. The third set saw the HD Spikers storm ahead to early leads of 5-1, 16-9 and 23-16, spearheaded by the sharp attacking of Lalongisip, Gandler and quick plays of Doria-Aquino.
Despite Capital1’s repeated efforts to close the gap, Cignal’s firepower, defensive adjustments and net presence proved too much to handle, disrupting their opponents' momentum.
Capital1 managed to take control early in the fourth set, but Cignal quickly regained its footing. A clutch off-the-block hit by Gandler pushed the HD Spikers ahead at 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 sealed the victory with a 5-2 finishing run, cementing their dominance. The HD Spikers will now aim for a quarterfinal berth as they take on the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Tuesday.
