The Cignal HD Spikers are through to the PVL on Tour semifinals. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) – Cignal is back in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
This, as the HD Spikers sent Akari crashing in the knockout quarterfinal of the PVL on Tour, 25-20, 25-11, 28-26, on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
This semis return marked Cignal's comeback after missing out on a playoff berth last 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference amid multiple player departures.
They will battle the winner of Chery Tiggo-Nxled quarters encounter.
After cruising to a 2-0 set lead banking on a dominant 25-11 Set 2 triumph, the HD Spikers had to earn the clinching frame the hard way.
After Akari reached set point off Chen Tagaod's down-the-line hit, 25-24, she suffered back-to-back errors that proved crucial, giving Cignal a 26-25 lead.
Grethcel Soltones saved one match point, 26-all, with an off-speed kill, but Tin Tiamzon and Erika Santos found the points, respectively, that gifted Cignal the semifinal berth, both on crosscourt attacks.
The Santos hit was still challenged for ball in/out, to no avail.
READ: PVL on Tour: Akari topples Petro Gazz, punches q'finals ticket
This was Cignal's first game since the Passi City leg, and coach Shaq delos Santos admitted they had to prepare the squad to shake off the rust.
"Unang-una 'yung ano rin, 'yung tiwala din namin sa team namin, sa players namin, kasi 'yun nga medyo mahaba 'yung rest namin before this game. Siguro dun namin ini-ready talaga 'yung team namin," said Delos Santos.
"Kumbaga, 'yung foundation namin talagang nag-invest kami. Kasi alam namin na 'yung makakalaban namin, talagang mga beterano, and experienced player din," he added.
Showing no signs of stopping, Santos led that Cignal firepower with a game-high 24 points on 22 attacks built on a 43-percent efficiency.
Rose Doria-Aquino had 10 points, while Ishie Lalongisip chipped in nine points. Gel Cayuna registered 18 excellent sets and seven excellent digs, while Ria Beatriz Duremdes had 20 excellent digs for the floor defense.
It was an anti-climactic exit for the Chargers, who had just eliminated All-Filipino champion Petro Gazz just this Tuesday, August 5.
Eli Soyud listed 13 points to pace the team, while Ced Domingo, in one of her better games in an Akari uniform, had 11 points.