The Cignal HD Spikers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines – Cignal has sealed the no. 3 seed in the qualifying round of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
This, as the HD Spikers overpowered reeling Akari, 25-17, 25-15, 25-21, on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
They edged out the Choco Flying Titans and PLDT High Speed Hitters — who are both at 7-3 in the standings — due to superior match points. Regardless of the two teams' results in their last assignments, the HD Spikers earned the right to face the number 10 team in the qualifying round.
"Talagang nag-o-all out din buong training and sobrang na-appreciate ko 'yung effort ng lahat. So siguro 'yung respect lang din namin sa isa't isa — sobrang happy kasi ito rin 'yung target namin na hopefully makuha talaga namin 'yung number 3 [sa standings], said coach Shaq delos Santos during the postgame press conference.
READ: PVL: Ishie Lalongisip's career-high lifts Cignal past Zus Coffee
The triumph also marked the HD Spikers' third victory in a row, while the Chargers ended the preliminaries with a two-game skid.
Spiker Vanie Gandler and middle blocker Rose Doria-Aquino emerged as the top scorers for Cignal, pouring in 15 and 12 points. At the same time, Ishie Lalongisip continued her brilliant showing, breaching double-digit scoring territory with 10, including five excellent receptions.
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Star libero Dawn Catindig tallied 16 excellent digs, while playmaker Gel Cayuna managed the offense with 19 excellent sets.
Meanwhile, open hitter Faith Nisperos was the lone bright spot for Akari as she listed 12 markers, eight excellent digs, and six excellent receptions.
Cignal rose to an 8-3 win-loss card, while Akari moved down to 5-6 — a significant drop from its performance in the import-laced 2024 Reinforced Conference where it finished the eliminations with a clean 8-0 slate in combined rankings.