Cignal sustained its blazing start to the 2025 PVL On Tour, handing Creamline its first loss in dominant fashion with a stunning 25-22, 25-18, 28-26 sweep on Tuesday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The win marked the HD Spikers’ first victory over the Cool Smashers since the 2022 Reinforced Conference semifinals and also dealt Creamline its first straight-set defeat since falling to Chery Tiggo in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
Now at the top of Pool B, Cignal improved to a perfect 3-0 record, having yet to drop a single set in the tournament. The HD Spikers previously swept their matches against Akari and Capital1 in the Vigan, Ilocos Sur leg.
(C) PVL Images
“Sobrang happy. Syempre, ‘di namin in-expect talaga na ma-straight sets. Good thing is sobrang nakaka-proud ‘yung team — both coaches and players — and even ‘yung management din sa support,” said head coach Shaq delos Santos.
“Kung papaano kami nag-prepare, sobrang happy kami kasi pinush talaga nila na magawa. Nagco-commit ng error pero ang good thing kasi kung paano mag-bounce back. Magiging bala pa namin ‘to para mas mag-improve pa kami,” he added.
Cignal was on the verge of sealing the match when a string of errors allowed Creamline to mount a 6-1 run, saving three match points and tying the third set at 24-all.
Heather Guino-o gave Cignal match point again, but an over-receive by Gel Cayuna leveled the score at 26.
Erika Santos and Sheena Toring traded blows, before Ishie Lalongisip took over, delivering back-to-back attacks to close out the win after an hour and 43 minutes of action.
Santos continued her strong showing with 18 points off 14 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Lalongisip backed her up with 15 points on 13 attacks and two aces, adding seven excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.
Cayuna orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets while chipping in five points of her own, while Buding Duremdes anchored the floor defense with 16 excellent digs.
Cignal now shifts its focus to a July 19 clash against Chery Tiggo in Passi, Iloilo, aiming to stretch its unbeaten streak to four games.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Creamline slipped to 2-1 in the standings after opening its campaign with consecutive wins over the Solar Spikers and the Chargers in Ilocos.
Michele Gumabao was the only Cool Smasher in double figures, finishing with 11 points alongside seven excellent digs. Team captain Alyssa Valdez contributed nine points and nine excellent receptions, while Jema Galanza had eight markers and seven receptions in the loss.
The Cool Smashers look to rebound against ZUS Coffee, also on July 19.
