VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—Its endgame composure and tactical savvy put to the test by a gritty Capital1 side, Cignal once again displayed poise and polish under pressure, thwarting the Solar Spikers in three sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-16, to seize the early solo lead in Pool B of the PVL On Tour Monday at the newly-renovated Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
After surviving fierce endgame resistance in the first two sets, the HD Spikers turned up the heat in Set 3, unleashing their full arsenal to break away early and dominate from start to finish. They raced to a 6-1 cushion and never looked back, sealing their second straight-set win in as many days.
It was a near mirror of their 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 conquest of the Akari Chargers on opening day, a victory that served notice of the team’s strong rebound bid following a disappointing early exit in the recent All-Filipino Conference – a campaign derailed by the mid-conference loss of two key players.
But if Cignal showed signs of vulnerability then, it has looked anything but in the PVL pre-season.
At the heart of another Cignal romp was veteran setter Gel Cayuna, who elevated her game from a 21-excellent set showing against the Chargers to an impressive 27-set performance against the Solar Spikers, effectively orchestrating the offense and keeping every player utilized by coach Shaq delos Santos involved.
“Sa dugout pa lang, pinag-uusapan na namin na dapat masaya kaming lahat na lalaro,” said the four-time Best Setter awardee,who also finished with five markers. “Masaya ako na nakakapag-adjust kami kahit maraming bago. Lahat nag-contribute kaya I’m really happy for my teammates and our coaches.”
Jessa Ordiales, who didn’t see action against the Akari Chargers, made the most of her league debut by delivering three points, including back-to-back hits that stretched Cignal’s lead to 18-11 in Set 3. She capped her impressive performance with a block on Trisha Genesis, sealing another dominant one-hour, 29-minute victory for the HD Spikers.
Erika Santos once again led the scoring charge for Cignal, following up her 14-point explosion against Akari with an 11-point effort this time. Roselyn Doria-Aquino chipped in 10 points, while Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuña contributed eight apiece, and Heather Guino-o added seven markers in a balanced offensive display.
Rovena Instrella topscored with 11 points, while Genesis and rookie Pia Abbu added nine and eight markers, respectively, for Capital1, which fell to 0-2 in the pre-season opener hosted by Gov. Jerry Singson.
Cignal lorded it over the net with 44 attack points, 14 more than Capital1, and outblocked the Solar Spikers, 9-4. The HD Spikers also registered four service aces against their rivals’ three, more than offsetting an error-prone performance that saw them give away 22 points on unforced errors, while capitalizing on 18 freebies from Capital1.
With a retooled roster featuring seasoned campaigners and promising new talent, the HD Spikers appear more balanced and better equipped to make a deep run.
The integration of Santos, Guino-o and Tin Tiamzon and rookies Pearl Ann Denura, Erin Pangilinan and Ordiales has given coach Shaq delos Santos more depth, versatility, and options. And despite the absence of top scorer Vanie Gandler and defensive anchor Dawn Catindig, both on national team duty, the early results have been nothing short of encouraging.
In Set 2, delos Santos tested his bench, fielding a mix of youth and experience that clicked seamlessly. Guino-o, Panglinan and Denura rose to the challenge, complementing the steady leadership of Cayuna and steady production from Ishie Lalongisip to build and protect a 2-0 set lead.
Cignal’s closing stretch in the first two frames also highlighted the team’s maturity and mental toughness. Locked in a tight 19-all duel in the opener, the HD Spikers strung up a decisive 6-2 run capped by a flurry of kills and a composed finish.
They faced the same test in Set 2 – again tied at 19 – but stayed composed, with Guino-o and Lalongisip delivering back-to-back hits in a crucial 3-0 spurt, aided by a costly attack error from Capital1’s Rachel Anne Austero.
Although the Solar Spikers threatened late with a Genesis hammer and a Pangilinan attack error to trim the deficit to 21-22, another mishit from Genesis and timely plays from Santos and Cayuna turned the tide. Guino-o iced the set with a strong baseline hit, then thwarted a Rovena Instrella kill to punctuate her standout set.
Capital1, which was routed by Creamline in straight sets on Sunday, played without head coach Jorge de Brito, who was on national team duty. Still, assistant coach Jerome Guhit drew a more competitive effort from his wards, who held their own early but faded late when Cignal’s pressure mounted.
With a 2-0 slate and rising chemistry, Cignal’s early run in the pre-season augurs well for its campaign moving forward. The HD Spikers are not just winning – they’re rediscovering their identity as a contender, one built on smart plays, solid system execution, and a reinvigorated roster that’s beginning to find its rhythm and voice.
Cayuna, however, emphasized that the HD Spikers remain a work in progress.
“We’re looking forward sa mga susunod pa naming adjustments for the next games,” she added, hinting at more improvements as the tournament progresses.
Meanwhile, the PVL On Tour swings to Batangas City this weekend with Pool A action heating up. Choco Mucho clashes with Galeries Tower at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center, followed by All-Filipino champion Petro Gazz testing Nxled’s retooled roster at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Angels take on the Highrisers at 4 p.m., while the Flying Titans square off with the Chameleons at 6:30 p.m. in another explosive double-header.
Games on Saturday
(Batangas City)
4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – Nxled vs Petro Gazz
