Undermanned Super Spikers floor powerhouse High Speed Hitters in irony-laced reversal

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In a result that turned the PVL Reinforced Conference on its head, Cignal delivered one of the most improbable victories in recent league memory – and the Super Spikers did it with nothing but heart, grit – and a fully homegrown crew.

Against all odds, and in the absence of a foreign reinforcement – and injured top hitter Vanie Gandler – the Super Spikers pulled off a straight-set stunner, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21, against the previously undefeated PLDT High Speed Hitters Tuesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was a victory that defied form, logic, and expectation – the kind of result that sends a ripple across an entire league.

For a team that had been reeling from back-to-back shutout defeats and had just let go of struggling import Eva Chantava, this match was supposed to be damage control at best.

Instead, Cignal turned it into a mission – and completed it with conviction.

Without an import to lean on, the team rediscovered the strength in their core – a gritty all-Filipino lineup that rose to the occasion and tore up the script.

Even more ironic? Cignal’s breakthrough came at the expense of sister team PLDT – the league’s most dominant force this season, riding high on a 15-0 run and owners of two conference titles.

The High Speed Hitters were unbeaten, seemingly untouchable.

But on this fateful night, they ran into a brick wall of belief, determination, and execution.

Some might argue PLDT was complacent, underestimating a team that had just overhauled its lineup.

But Cignal didn’t just win – they outplayed and outsmarted the powerhouse at every turn.

What unfolded was not a fluke, but a complete and cohesive performance.

But for ace playmaker Gel Cayuna, the outcome wasn’t as surprising as it was for everyone else.

“I really wanted to bounce back – I missed that winning feeling,” said Cayuna in Filipino, who admitted to struggling in their first two matches, both of which they lost in straight sets.

“I just couldn’t find my rhythm in those first two games,” she added.

But bounce back she did – alongside the rest of the Cignal HD Spikers – as Cayuna dished out 20 excellent sets and contributed six points, including a clutch 1-2 play in the third set that helped seal the one-hour, 22-minute win.

“We worked hard to make up for what we lacked in our first two games, and all that effort finally paid off,” she said.

With the victory, Cignal improved to 1-2 and kept its hopes alive for a Top 3 finish in Pool A.

“This win is incredibly fulfilling – it really showed our mindset and how much we wanted this,” said Cayuna.

“We want to win more, and we’re going to work even harder for it.”

Up next for the Super Spikers is a matchup against the winless Nxled Chameleons on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

Meanwhile, the loss ended PLDT’s impressive 15-game winning streak, which included two championships in the PVL On Tour and Invitational.

The result also allowed Farm Fresh to take solo leadership of the pool with a perfect 3-0 record. For the High Speed Hitters, the fire that once burned bright seemed to have dimmed.

Gone was the fierce look in their eyes, the intimidating net defense that often left opponents baffled, and the rock-solid floor coverage that used to keep their offense sharp and seamless.

Instead, it was Cignal that took command – outgunning PLDT in attacks, 50-34, producing more blocks, 5-2, and firing seven aces against just four from the High Speed Hitters.

Erika Santos and Ishie Lalongisip stepped up in a big way, taking on the role usually reserved for imports, as they tallied 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Set 3, however, belonged to Santos, who exploded for nine points on 15 attempts – including a decisive four-point scoring run that propelled Cignal to a 23-21 lead.

Savi Davison momentarily halted the momentum with a blast for PLDT, but Tin Tiamzon responded with an off-the-block hit, and Heather Guino-o sealed the set with a service ace – capitalizing on a PLDT defense that simply crumbled at crunch time.

PLDT import Nastya Bavykina was held to just 10 points, struggling to make her presence felt.

Davison tried to carry the load with 14 points, while Kim Dy added seven.

Dell Palomata and Majoy Baron contributed five and three points, respectively, but the team couldn’t find its usual rhythm all game long.