VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR — Newcomers Erika Santos and Tine Tiamzon made a strong first impression as the new-look Cignal swept Akari, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23, to open its 2025 PVL On Tour Pool B campaign with a resounding win at the Chavit Coliseum here.
Santos and Tiamzon, both making their debut since being signed in the offseason, were thrust into the starting lineup. The two immediately stepped up to help power the HD Spikers, who played without Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler due to their commitments with Alas Pilipinas.
The former put up a game-high 14 points on 14 attacks, while the latter registered a double-double of 11 points and 14 excellent receptions.
With the win, Cignal took the early lead in Pool B with a 1-0 slate after the one-hour, 33-minute encounter.
“Syempre, nakaka-overwhelm kasi first [game] on tour tapos first game ko sa [Cignal] Pero, there’s no room for complacency. Uhaw pa matuto,” said Santos, who spent four seasons with PLDT before transferring to the HD Spikers almost two months ago.
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After eking out a close first set and dominating the second, Cignal looked poised to cruise to victory. But the third frame turned into a gritty battle — until Santos and Gel Cayuna sparked a crucial 5-0 run that flipped an 18-19 deficit into a commanding 23-19 lead.
Still, the Chargers refused to fold. Two untimely errors from Santos trimmed the gap to just two, before Tiamzon stepped up and delivered a powerful kill that brought the HD Spikers to match point, 24-21.
Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina tried to keep Akari alive with back-to-back hits, cutting the lead to one. But in the end, a costly miscue on the receive sealed Akari’s fate and handed Cignal the straight-set win.
“We know marami pang kulang but ang good thing kasi ‘yong response nong team namin especially kay Erika na siyempre bago lang sa team. But the way she play[s], sobrang, sobrang happy kami and I’m sure marami pang puwedeng magawa na maganda,” said HD Spikers head coach Shaq delos Santos.
Cayuna weaved her magic and tossed 21 excellent sets to go along with five big points built on two attacks, two aces, and one kill block for Cignal.
Ishie Lalongisip provided nine points, eight excellent digs, and six excellent receptions, while middle blockers Roselyn Doria-Aquino and Jackie Acuña registered eight and seven markers, respectively, in the victory.
Erin Pangilinan, the sixth overall pick in the recent PVL Draft, as well as undrafted libero Pearl Denura saw limited action in their HD Spikers debut, with the former tallying a point. Meanwhile, 18th pick Jessa Ordiales sat out the contest.
Cignal will take on Capital1 tomorrow, 4:00 PM, to cap off the first leg of the PVL On Tour.
The Chargers, on the other hand, played without new head coach Tina Salak, who did not travel with the squad to tend to personal matters. Taking over in her place is lead assistant Eddieson Orcullo.
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Akari also missed newly-minted team captain Justine Jazareno and Fifi Sharma, both loaned to Alas Pilipinas, as well as the injured Faith Nisperos and Erika Raagas. All four players travelled with the team to Vigan.
Eli Soyud posted a team-best 12 points for the Chargers. Soltones added 11 points off the bench, while Lacsina only had nine in the loss.
Kamille Cal, taking over starting playmaker duties following the retirement of Michelle Cobb, dished 17 excellent sets to go along with three markers.
Akari’s first-round pick, Chen Tagaod, tallied three points as a starter but sat out the entire third set.
The Chargers aim to bounce back against Creamline at 6:30 PM.
