Cignal hands PLDT its first PVL All-Filipino Conference loss

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Cignal Super Spikers bagged an impressive bounce-back win after sweeping the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, while dealing them their first loss in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Feb. 24, 2026, at the FilOil Playtime Centre.

Fresh off a painful 0-3 loss at the hands of the Nxled Chameleons, the Super Spikers were eager to redeem themselves, pulling off the rebounding victory in style with a one-sided showing against one of the top teams in the ongoing tournament.

A thrilling opener treated the PVL fans in attendance after the High Speed Hitters mounted a fierce rally to erase Cignal’s 17-9 lead in the first set.

Through the efforts of Savannah Davison, Kim Dy, and Mika Reyes, PLDT was able to trim its deficit to just a point, but an unexpected counterattack from Cignal sealed the 1-0 lead for good, courtesy of Erika Santos and Ishie Lalongisip.

Unlike the first-set drama, the Super Spikers finally took full control of the game’s tempo in the following set, with Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos taking turns in piling up Cignal’s point tally.

Cignal was already bound for a flawless finish after establishing a 16-11 advantage in the third set, but PLDT replicated its come-from-behind efforts in the first set with a demoralizing 6-0 run for a 16-17 lead.

What followed was a back-and-forth duel, as both teams traded offensive conversions that went down to the wire in a 50-50 setting in the final stretch of the final set.

However, the Super Spikers found their groove in the final four game possessions after reaching match point first, 24-22, before Davison kept PLDT’s comeback hopes alive with a spike to pull within a point, 24-23.

Gel Cayuna, Cignal’s primary setter, then sealed the 3-0 victory with a crafty 1-2 play, outsmarting the entire PLDT defense with an easy two-handed tip that the High Speed Hitters failed to read.

Spearheading the Cignal attack was Erika Santos, who led all scorers with a game-high 17-point production alongside seven excellent receptions and four excellent digs.

Backstopping Santos was Gandler, who chipped in 14 markers, eight excellent receptions, five excellent digs, a service ace, and a block.

The Super Spikers aim to maintain their momentum on Feb. 28, 2026, when they square off against the Akari Chargers, while PLDT targets a fresh reset on the same date, against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

Chargers finally find their rhythm, drub Chameleons

Games Thursday 4 p.m. — Capital1 vs Farm Fresh 6:30 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Galeries Tower

Akari finally put everything together.

After stumbling through three straight losses, the Chargers delivered a composed and complete performance to scuttle the Nxled Chameleons, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at the FilOil Playtime Centre on Tuesday night.

More than just a win, it was a statement.

A team that had looked disjointed and searching for answers in its first three outings finally displayed cohesion, poise and balance. Even after dropping a tightly contested third set, the Chargers stayed organized and aggressive, taking early control of the fourth and fending off every Nxled rally attempt down the stretch to seal the two-hour, 10-minute victory.

It was a much-needed breakthrough that lifted Akari to 1-3 and breathed life into its campaign in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Ced Domingo fittingly delivered the finishing blow, hammering in her signature quick attack that the Chameleons failed to contain. Domingo anchored the middle with 17 points, including two blocks, providing stability alongside Fifi Sharma.

On the wings, Ivy Lacsina erupted for 20 points, while Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones added 13 and 12, respectively. The balanced scoring — four players in double figures — underscored the offensive fluidity that had been missing in Akari’s earlier losses.

Running the show was Mars Alba, who orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets and sprinkled in five points of her own, including timely 1-2 plays and even a rare foot attack that caught Nxled, a team they now dominated in five of six previous head-to-head duels, off guard. Her all-around brilliance earned her Best Player of the Game honors.

“Tiwala lang sa isa’t isa,” said Alba. “We thanked the Lord because we couldn’t have done this on our own. We’re grateful to finally get a win and hopefully this continues.”

Akari’s renewed firepower showed in the numbers. The Chargers dominated in attacks, 70-57, neutralizing Nxled’s edge at the net where Ranya Musa led with four of their eight blocks.

For Nxled, the loss marked a troubling second straight setback after a promising 3-0 start. Now at 3-2, the Chameleons suddenly look vulnerable — a stark contrast to the powerhouse squad that swept its first three assignments and raised expectations early in the conference before yielding to Galeries Tower in three.

Lacsina and Soltones also made their presence felt on the defensive end, steadying the backline as much as they fueled the offense. Lacsina tallied 10 excellent receptions to keep Akari’s first ball under control, while Soltones stood out with 14 excellent digs and 10 receptions, repeatedly frustrating Nxled’s attackers and sustaining crucial rallies.

Brooke Van Sickle paced Nxled with 16 points but struggled to find rhythm in the opening sets, allowing Akari to seize control. Myla Pablo added 14, while MJ Phillips chipped in 12 in her return after missing the team’s shocking defeat to the Highrisers.

But on this night, Nxled was reduced to chasing.

And Akari, at long last, looked like the cohesive contender many expected from the start.

Nxled breathed new life into its campaign with a gripping Set 3 victory, surviving a nerve-wracking finish marked by momentum swings, a prolonged net-infraction challenge by Akari, and even a yellow card for Nxled for burning all its timeouts.

The Chameleons appeared in control at 19-17 but suddenly found themselves trailing, 20-22, as the Chargers mounted a fierce rally. Refusing to fold, Nxled responded behind Van Sickle’s thunderous blast before Jonah Sabete-Escamillan delivered back-to-back clutch hits — the second coming off a tense, extended exchange — to push Nxled back in front, 23-22.

Drama escalated when the Chargers challenged a net infraction call. The lengthy review stalled the match’s rhythm, but the challenge proved unsuccessful, clearing the way for Djanel Cheng to hammer in a clutch ace that moved Nxled to set point.

Akari stayed alive behind Domingo’s quick attack, trimming the deficit to 23-24 and setting the stage for a high-pressure finish. But the tension that had defined the set was ultimately undercut by a costly lapse.

Kamille Cal, sent in cold off the bench to serve and extend the fight, misfired with a strong, long attempt — the service error handing Nxled a hard-earned two-point escape.

In a set defined by surges, slips and simmering tension, it was Nxled’s poise in the decisive moments — aided by Cal’s untimely error — that sealed the dramatic win.

Playing with a clear sense of urgency, the Chargers seized control from the outset, riding on Lacsina’s firepower while capitalizing on the Chameleons’ disjointed play following their loss to the Highrisers that halted their three-game surge.

Akari stormed to an 11-5 lead, immediately setting the tone with crisp execution and relentless attacks from both wings. Although the Chameleons attempted to rally and trimmed the deficit to two on several occasions — the last at 16-18 — the Chargers responded with authority. A decisive 7-2 closing blast underscored their intent and handed them a commanding head start.

Lacsina spearheaded the charge with a barrage of kills, mixing off-the-block and through-the-block hits that the Chameleons simply could not contain. In stark contrast to Akari’s sharpness, Nxled struggled to find rhythm. Its first-pass woes persisted, its offense lacked fluidity, and the depth that once worked to its advantage was nowhere to be found.

Sharma, Domingo and Soyud provided solid support, while Soltones chipped in timely hits and steady leadership — elements that had been missing in the Chargers’ previous losses. Alba further tilted the balance, outplaying her counterpart Jules Tolentino with precise and consistent distribution that fueled Akari’s 16-13 edge in attacks.

In contrast, the Chameleons appeared rattled and directionless. Still reeling from their recent defeat, they failed to establish their vaunted offense and bled eight free points off unforced errors. Even a service ace by Djanel Cheng — which briefly saved a second set point — was negated by her subsequent service fault.

Phillips showed flashes of promise, scoring three quick points and finishing with five in the opening set in an effort to atone for her absence against the Highrisers. But the rest of Nxled’s hitters faltered. Van Sickle and birthday celebrant Leyann de Guzman were kept in check, epitomizing a Chameleons side that lacked cohesion, urgency and clear direction — a glaring contrast to the Chargers’ determined and purposeful start.