Santos powers Cignal past Akari, into PVL semifinals

Games tomorrow (Saturday)

4 p.m. – Nxled vs Chery Tiggo

6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Farm Fresh

Bracing for a grind-it-out battle, Cignal instead cruised to a dominant 25-20, 25-10, 28-26 win over a struggling Akari squad to book a semifinal berth in the PVL On Tour Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Erika Santos continued her hot streak with a clinical 24-point performance on 43% attack efficiency, showcasing power hits, down-the-line kills, and crafty tips.

She sealed the one-hour, 34-minute victory with a crosscourt shot that landed squarely on the line—a match-winner Akari unsuccessfully challenged.

The win sent Cignal to the knockout semifinals on Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum, where it will face the winner of the Nxled–Chery Tiggo quarterfinal.

Santos torched the Chargers for 19 points in the first two sets but cooled off in the third, allowing Akari to push back.

A Ced Domingo running attack gave the Chargers a 17-14 edge, but Cignal quickly responded.

Santos tied the game at 18, then Jackie Acuña denied Domingo at the net to take the lead.

Akari wasn’t done.

A block touch by Ivy Lacsina gave the Chargers a 24-23 lead, but the HD Spikers leaned on grit and system execution to clinch the match on their third match point.

“Kinapitan lang namin kasi nakita namin yung adjustment ng Akari—ang ganda ng defense at execution nila,” said Santos.

“Sumunod lang kami sa sistema ni coach Shaq (delos Santos).”

Cignal’s celebration was briefly paused as Akari challenged the match-winning spike, but the review confirmed the ball was in, triggering a well-deserved team eruption.

Santos was named Best Player of the Game again but deflected the credit.

“Hindi pa rin ako sanay (sa award), pero sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko—yung tiwala nila sa akin, sobrang laki,” she said.

Roselyn Doria chipped in 10 points, while Ishie Lalongisip had nine.

Tin Tiamzon and Acuña added six apiece.

Cignal outgunned Akari in attacks, 47–37, dominated the net with a 9–5 block advantage, and capitalized on 19 Akari unforced errors while committing just 13.

Eli Soyud led Akari with 13 points, Domingo followed with 11, while Chenie Tagaod and Ezra Madrigal added five each.

Lacsina and Grethcel Soltones were limited to four points apiece.

Despite showing signs of life in the third set, the Chargers failed to extend the match and bowed out of contention.

“As for the semis, we don’t pick our opponents,” Santos said.

“Lahat pantay-pantay ang respeto namin. Back to zero ulit. Pag-aaralan lang namin yung lessons sa mga previous games namin.”

Earlier in the match, Cignal shook off rust from a long layoff and erased an early four-point deficit with a strong finishing kick.

Santos led the late surge with eight points, building on her explosive form from the prelims, including a 30-point outburst against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles last July 20.

Akari rallied late and closed in at 18-21, but a net violation by Soyud helped Cignal reach set point at 24-18.

Akari saved two points on a Lalongisip error and a Domingo block but failed to return a power hit from Cignal’s young spiker in the next play.

Set 2 was all Cignal.

The HD Spikers jumped to a 10-5 lead as Akari struggled with both offensive rhythm and floor defense.

Then came the Santos barrage—power hits, sharp angles, and well-timed tips that powered Cignal to a commanding 22-8 advantage.

Santos scored 11 points in the set alone, bringing her tally to 19.

Cignal closed the set in just 23 minutes with 17 attack points, limiting Akari to only four.

Frustrated, Akari head coach Tina Salak urged her players to relax.

“Shake off the frustration first. Just enjoy the game—you’re too tense, and it’s making you freeze out there,” she said in Filipino, motioning toward the scoreboard that read 18-7.

But her pep talk failed to ignite the team.

Despite sweeping Petro Gazz in the quarterfinals, Akari appeared flat and disconnected—far from the composed, confident squad that earned a place in the knockout stage.