RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL – Cignal escaped Creamline in a thrilling five-set battle, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-11, to stay in contention for the fifth seed in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at the Ynares Center Montalban here.
The Super Spikers, who navigated a tough second-round schedule, finished the eliminations with a 5-3 record but could still drop to sixth place depending on the result of Petro Gazz’s match against PLDT on Thursday.
“Always ko naman sinasabi na sobrang happy and proud sa team, and we know naman talaga na pinaghihirapan din lahat ng nagiging result ngayon,” said head coach Shaq delos Santos after the win.
(C) PVL Images
After a rousing fourth-set victory forced a decisive fifth set, Cignal went toe to toe with the Cool Smashers, trading blows before Rose Doria-Aquino and Vanie Gandler sparked a pivotal 6-1 run. The rally was capped by three points from Slovak import Katrin Trebichavska, turning a 3-3 deadlock into a commanding 9-4 lead.
Trebichavska, who had delivered two aces earlier, committed a service error. Then a Doria-Aquino attack error and a massive Tots Carlos block on Vanie Gandler momentarily swung momentum to Creamline, cutting the five-point deficit to two.
Both teams continued trading points — and a few service errors — until another misfired serve from Rose Vargas was countered by a blistering through-the-block kill from Trebichavska, extending the Super Spikers’ lead to 13-10.
Coco Schwan and Michele Gumabao kept the Cool Smashers in the match, but Jackie Acuña and Trebichavska delivered the finishing touches, sealing Cignal’s comeback after two hours and 11 minutes of play.
“I think siguro ‘yung mga past expriences namin, especially kapag nakaka-encounter kami ng pagkatalo. Siguro ‘yung naging mindset din namin going to the second round na kailangan trabahuhin talaga namin and pag-ingatan talaga kung ano ‘yung mga kailangan naming gawin,” said delos Santos.
Trebichavska led Cignal with 20 points on 15 attacks, three kill blocks, and two aces, along with nine excellent receptions.
Gandler regained her rhythm with 15 points, 10 excellent receptions, and seven digs—her best performance since returning from an undisclosed injury.
Doria-Aquino added 12 points, including five kill blocks, while Acuña and rookie Jessa Ordiales contributed 10 and nine markers, respectively. Erika Santos was limited to eight points.
Gel Cayuna dished out 28 excellent sets and added three points, while Dawn Catindig recorded 28 excellent digs.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Creamline also finished 5-3 but will enter the quarterfinals as the fourth seed due to a superior points tally.
Schwan was the lone double-digit scorer for the Cool Smashers, posting 25 points and 16 excellent receptions in a loss that ended their bid for a top-two finish.
Tots Carlos and Lorie Bernardo added nine and eight points, respectively, while Gumabao contributed seven markers.
