Super Spikers Bounce Back to Dominate Foxies, Take 1-0 Lead in Semis

Cignal kicked off its 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals with a strong performance, overcoming an initial setback to defeat Farm Fresh in four sets, 23-25, 25-14, 25-11, 25-12, on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

After dropping the first set in a tight contest, the Super Spikers quickly regained their form, improving their serve-receive game and finding their rhythm on both offense and defense. Cignal powered through the next three sets, securing an early 1-0 lead in the round-robin semifinals.

Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos credited improved execution and timely adjustments for the turnaround.

“I think it was about finding the right moves, how we prepared, and focusing on what our team does best,” delos Santos said. “We needed to move quickly but with the right timing. Those were the key adjustments, and our serve and receive were huge factors in winning the game.”

Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler were once again the driving force behind Cignal’s attack. Santos finished with a game-high 21 points, while Gandler contributed 18 points, including 13 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, along with six excellent receptions.

Veteran leadership also played a key role, as Tine Tiamzon delivered 11 points and 13 excellent digs. Rose Doria-Aquino added seven points, and Dawn Catindig was a defensive standout, recording 24 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions. Setter Gel Cayuna dished out 16 excellent sets and added five points.

Cignal dominated in almost every statistical category, outscoring Farm Fresh in attacks, 58-42, and also leading in blocks, 8-4, and aces, 5-3. The most significant gap, however, came in errors, with Farm Fresh committing 27 unforced errors compared to just 13 for Cignal, in the 1-hour and 44-minute match.

For Farm Fresh, Trisha Tubu led with 13 points, although she was benched at the start of the fourth set in an attempt to spark a rally. Royse Tubino chipped in 12 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Ces Molina was limited to just nine points. Setter Alohi Robins-Hardy struggled to facilitate the offense, finishing with just eight excellent sets.

The loss leaves Farm Fresh in a must-win position for their upcoming match against the top-seeded PLDT High Speed Hitters on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, Cignal will turn its focus to a high-stakes matchup against the defending champions, Creamline Cool Smashers, at 6:30 p.m., looking to strengthen its path to the Finals.