Streaks on the line as Super Spikers, Chameleons collide

Games today (February 14, 2026)
(Ynares Center, Antipolo)
4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs. Farm Fresh
6:30 p.m. – Cignal vs. Nxled

One winning streak will continue — and the other will end — as Cignal and Nxled clash today (Saturday) in a marquee showdown between rising contenders in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

Fans in Antipolo City and nearby areas are in for a treat as two of the league’s three remaining unbeaten teams square off just two weeks into the 10-team tournament.

Cignal enters the highly anticipated duel brimming with confidence, riding a three-match winning run that includes victories over Galeries Tower, Choco Mucho, and most recently, Farm Fresh. It marks one of the Super Spikers’ strongest starts in recent years.

Still, head coach Shaq Delos Santos is keeping his squad grounded.

“I think the number one thing we need to focus on is how to recover from fatigue,” said Delos Santos in Filipino. “We also need to study how they play, how they perform, and try to maximize what we need to improve — our strengths and the areas we can sharpen.”

The Super Spikers’ solid start has given them the solo lead in the early going of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision, but they face a stern test against an Nxled side many believe is primed for a breakthrough season.

Nxled, backed by a star-studded roster, has also impressed early. After surviving a gritty five-set comeback win over Farm Fresh, the Chameleons followed it up with a commanding straight-set sweep of the Capital1 Solar Spikers to stay within striking distance of the leader.

With momentum building on both sides, the 6:30 p.m. showdown promises to be a high-level battle of speed, style, and composure.

Vanie Gandler, fresh off a 25-point explosion against the Foxies, and Erika Santos are expected to lead Cignal’s charge in a potential shootout against Nxled’s Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo. The middle blockers from both teams are likewise tipped to play crucial roles in what shapes up as a grind-out contest defined by defensive discipline and late-set poise.

At stake is more than bragging rights. A sweep of the single-round preliminaries carries the incentive of an outright semifinal berth — extra motivation for both unbeaten squads.

The 4 p.m. opener is also shaping up to be a fierce encounter as the Foxies try to halt a two-game slide against the Highrisers, who are coming off a morale-boosting five-set win over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

Galeries Tower, currently at 1-1, is aiming to build on its breakthrough victory as it continues to redefine itself under coach Clarence Esteban.

“We’re all happy because even though we’ve only been together for a short time, the team is responding well to the system we’re implementing,” said Esteban in Filipino.

The Highrisers underwent a major offseason revamp, parting ways with several players and bringing in a mix of seasoned veterans and young standouts, including Aiza Pontillas, Erika Raagas, Shola Alvarez, Gayle Pascual, and Erika Deloria. Holdovers Julia Coronel, Jean Asis, and Roselle Baliton provide stability.

Esteban emphasized that rebuilding does not mean lowering standards.

“We carefully selected players we believe are the best fit for the team. Yes, we’re rebuilding, but that’s not an excuse for us not to perform well,” he said.

Coronel echoed the team’s patient but determined mindset.

“We’re back to the drawing board for now. We’re not expecting immediate wins. We’ll stick to the system until we start winning and achieve the results we’re working for,” she said.