CIGNAL asserted its mastery of Farm Fresh, 23-25, 25-14, 25-11, 25-12, to open the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Just like in their opening-week prelims clash, the Super Spikers handled the retooled Foxies with their tight-knit core clicking at full strength.
The crucial opening win in the single round-robin semis puts Cignal in prime position for a third PVL finals appearance.
"We just played steady and we didn't panic after the first set," said Vanie Gandler.
"Rather than focusing on our errors, what we did wrong, we focused on what we need to improve on."
Erika Santos powered Cignal to three runaway set wins after a late first-set hiccup, finishing with 21 points as they cooled off a Farm Fresh side fresh from eliminating erstwhile title favorite Nxled in the play-ins.
Gandler added 18 points and six receptions, while Tin Tiamzon chipped in a double-double of 11 points and 13 digs.
Dawn Macandili-Catindig anchored the floor defense with 24 digs and 10 receptions.
Fall once, rise thrice
Farm Fresh escaped a tight opening set, witH Tiamzon and Gandler saving two set points before a Trisha Tubu off-speed hit sealed the frame.
Tiamzon also halted the slide in Set 2, where Cignal built a lead as large as 12 to level the match.
The Super Spikers then seized control in the third, racing to a 9-1 start and riding that cushion to take the match lead and eventually, the match win, after an equally convincing fourth-set beatdown.
Trisha Tubu was limited to 13 points, while Royse Tubino still delivered a 12-point, 10-reception effort and Ces Molina added nine points and six receptions.
Farm Fresh absorbed defeat in its PVL semifinals debut, with PLDT and Creamline still ahead on its schedule.
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