Super Spikers seek crucial win vs embattled Thunderbelles

Games today, March 5, 2026
4 p.m. – Cignal vs ZUS Coffee
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Farm Fresh

Relentlessly chased by two powerhouse rivals, Cignal is determined not only to stay on top but to move closer to clinching the first berth in the Qualifying Round in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

With the Top Four picture gradually taking shape, the Super Spikers have positioned themselves strongly with a 4-2 record. Their 4 p.m. showdown against struggling ZUS Coffee at the FilOil Playtime Centre presents a prime opportunity to firm up their drive.

ZUS Coffee, currently reeling from five losses against a lone win, has yet to rediscover the form that propelled it to a breakthrough runner-up finish in the Reinforced Conference. The absence of top middle blocker AC Miner due to injury has significantly hurt the Thunderbelles, especially against teams that have either maintained chemistry or strengthened their rosters.

Cignal, meanwhile, has proven that continuity can be just as lethal as reinforcements. With an intact core, a retooled system, and renewed purpose, the Super Spikers have shown composure and cohesion in a cutthroat conference where every win matters.

Another victory would further solidify their grip on a coveted slot, while another loss for ZUS Coffee would virtually extinguish its Qualifying Round hopes.

Still, under the new format, no team is eliminated outright — even the last-placed squad has an opportunity to regroup, make a run, and storm into the Final Four.

Under the format, the top four teams will advance directly to the Qualifying Round. The No. 1 seed will face No. 4, while No. 2 will take on No. 3. The winners of these matchups will automatically advance to the semifinals.

Teams ranked fifth to 10th will compete in the Play-In Stage.

The Play-In Stage will be divided into two groups: Group A (Nos. 6, 7, and 10) and Group B (Nos. 5, 8, and 9).

In each group, the highest-ranked team (No. 6 in Group A and No. 5 in Group B) will receive a built-in advantage by waiting for the winners of the initial matchups within their group.

The two Play-In winners will then face the losers of the Qualifying Round in crossover matches. The winners of those crossover games will secure the final two spots in the Final Four.

Also in a commanding position are PLDT and Creamline, both sporting identical 4-1 records.

PLDT seeks a crucial win to possibly seize solo first place — depending on the Cignal–ZUS Coffee outcome — or at least secure solo second. The High Speed Hitters have looked formidable, bouncing back from a shutout loss to the Super Spikers with a dominant straight-set win over the Thunderbelles.

With Savi Davison and Kim Dy leading the charge, and the formidable middle duo of Majoy Baron and Mika Reyes anchoring the net, PLDT has displayed balance, firepower, and defensive stability. The steady playmaking of Kim Fajardo and floor leadership of libero Kath Arado further reinforce a squad built for deep Qualifying Round contention.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, and ‘yung standing ngayon, parang you don’t know who’s gonna win and who’s gonna lose so it’s very important ngayon na onti na lang ‘yung games namin, and we’re going na to the [end] of the round robin so every game is important. We have to treat every game like a very important game,” said Dy.

Creamline, meanwhile, remains a looming force. The Cool Smashers’ championship pedigree and experience in high-pressure situations make them a strong favorite to secure a berth in the post-elims play. As the eliminations enter their crucial stretch, Creamline’s consistency and composure could prove decisive in the Qualifying Round race.

Behind the top contenders, the race for the remaining semis berth remains intense.

Farm Fresh sits at fourth with a 2-3 slate, with Akari also toting the same card but with fewer total points. But the Foxies face stiff competition from a crowded 3-3 pack composed of Choco Mucho, Capital1, and Nxled. With eight playdates left in the single-round preliminaries, every match carries significant playoff implications.

Farm Fresh will try to regain momentum behind Trisha Tubu, Ces Molina, Rizza Cruz, Royse Tubino, Jolina dela Cruz, and Riri Meneses. However, overcoming a motivated PLDT squad will require more than grit — it will demand precision and sustained execution.