THEY say defense wins championships, but for Cignal, at the very least, it has helped them win the most games so far in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
In three of their four wins to date, the Super Spikers managed to beat Galeries Tower, Choco Mucho, and PLDT without letting them score a single service ace.
That statistic alone attests to their rock-solid receptions and floor defense, one that has been instrumental in reaching a league-best four victories.
Through five games, the Super Spikers have averaged 24 excellent receptions per match, even tallying a conference-high 38 in a four-set rout of Farm Fresh.
And as teams put a premium on unleashing potent scorers, Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos made sure to keep their defensive line just as strong.
“Bihira kasi siya nangyayari, lalo na kapag may pressure ‘yung game,” he said, talking about how the times they didn't give up a single ace.
“[Produkto rin ‘yun] ng investment din namin sa serve-receive. ‘Yung commitment din talaga nila eh, especially kanina. The way ko sila pinapanood na naka-focus, nadadala rin ako ng adrenaline. ‘Yung mga tumatalsik na bola, talagang gusto ko siyang kunin so sobrang nakakatuwa rin.”
No sister act
For reigning PVL on Tour MVP Erika Santos, taking down their sister team and two-time champion High Speed Hitters with their pesky defense was driven by nothing more than her sheer competitive spirit.
Scoring 17 points in the win, Santos just didn’t want to lose. Plain and simple.
READ: Cignal sweeps PLDT to hand sister team its first loss in PVL AFC
“May pagka-competitive din ako eh. Ayaw ko na natatalo nang basta-basta,” the former PLDT reserve-turned-Super Spikers star said.
“Masarap kasi makipaglaro sa mga matataas na players, like ‘yung ranking nasa top. Naging motivation lang for us para matuto and gustuhing manalo.”
Mainstay setter Gel Cayuna, who had 18 excellent sets and nine points in the win, put a premium on not dwelling too much on external pressure to bring out their A-game.
“Nothing to lose naman kami. Kung anong meron kami, ‘yun lang ibibigay talaga namin. Tinatrabaho namin yun sa training at ito na ‘yun. Ito na lahat ‘yung makikita niyo sa team namin,” she said.
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