Before the opening serve, Cignal arrived with more than just game plans — they carried promises etched in numbers, each one put to the test under the bright lights of a high-stakes clash against powerhouse Creamline.
It felt less like a pre-game routine and more like a verbal dare, as if each Super Spiker had already written the script for how they intended to dominate the floor.
At the center of it all stood Gel Cayuna, who made the boldest vow: committing to orchestrate at least 30-plus excellent sets while also contributing double-digit scoring, a rare dual feat she believed she could deliver.
When the dust settled, those promises were no longer just words thrown out before the first serve. They defined the entire match: promises made, and promises fulfilled.
Cayuna, facing a battle-tested Cool Smashers squad — and, of course, the roaring wave of fans that always follows them — rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Cignal finally exacted revenge against Creamline, winning 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15, to punch their ticket to the semifinals of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
“Natutunan na talaga na sa dami naming laro, talagang kapag Creamline ‘yung kalaban, puno talaga ‘yung ano eh, ang dami talagang tao. Ayun,” said the four-time league Best Setter, recalling their heartbreaking five-set loss to the same squad to end the preliminaries.
The 27-year-old playmaker delivered on her promise, unleashing 35 excellent sets along with 11 crucial points, keeping defenders guessing throughout a two-hour-and-30-minute grind.
Cayuna dictated the tempo from start to finish, weaving the Super Spikers’ offense with precision and poise while stepping up in key moments.
(C) PVL Images
“Kasi tinanong kami ni coach kung ano ‘yung goal namin na points and excellent sets, so sabi ko kasi 30 plus ‘yung sinabi ko [sa sets] and double digits sa score. So talagang nagawa ko,” said the first-ever Season Best Setter.
Super Spikers head coach Shaq delos Santos couldn’t hide his pride after the breakthrough. He lauded Cayuna and the squad for staying true to their commitments and delivering when it mattered most against a formidable Creamline side.
“Nag-commit naman sila, sabi ko kailangan ‘yung intention natin… Ano ba ‘yung gusto nating gawin para today, which is ‘yun ‘yung mga binitawan nila sa amin sa huddle namin. Sobrang happy and again nakakaproud kasi nagawa talaga nila ‘yung gusto nilang gawin,” said delos Santos.
Cayuna fulfilled her promises at the most crucial stage, but for Cignal, the job is far from over. They now shift their focus to the grueling round-robin semifinals.
With momentum on their side, the playmaker made it clear that the next challenge calls for even greater discipline and preparation. And she vowed to double down on the work as the Super Spikers aim for a deeper run.
“Ano po, nakahinga rin ng ano, kasi grabe talaga rin ‘yung natutunan namin last game. Grabe rin ‘yung ensayo namin, ‘yung preparation namin, talagang all-out din aralin ‘yung Creamline para mapanalo namin ‘yung game ngayon,” Cayuna said.
“Sobrang saya lang kasi grabe ‘yung kapit talaga ng bawat isa. Kahit din ‘yung coaches, grabe rin ‘yung effort para mapanalo ‘yung game na ‘to. Masaya, masaya. Magtatrabaho pa kami para sa semis.”
#WATCH: SHAQ’S CHALLENGE 🏐
Gel Cayuna discloses what motivated her during Cignal’s #PVL2026 Qualifying Round win over Creamline#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/d47BDnoQi7
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/aSY8aE8E7R
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 26, 2026
