CIGNAL booked the first quarterfinals ticket in the 2025 PVL on Tour by sweeping ZUS Coffee, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16, on Sunday in Passi City, Iloilo.
Erika Santos hit a new career-high of 30 points, becoming the 11th local member of the PVL’s 30-point club since the league turned pro in 2021.
She also became the first HD Spiker in league history to put up a 30-piece in a PVL game.
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"Good thing na na-acknowledge namin yung nangyari last night. Na-acknowledge yung mga pagkakamali, yung mga lapses, areas of corrections," said Santos after a winning finish to the Passi City leg.
"Nalaman namin kung ano pa yung mga kulang and kailangan naming ma-learn. 'Di lang kami nag-stop. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang."
Ishie Lalongisip dished out a 15-point, 13-reception double-double, backed by a stellar 11-piece from Jackie Acuna.
Tin Tiamzon had seven points and 10 receptions.
The HD Spikers’ 4-1 (win-loss) record to end pool play is enough to secure one of four outright playoff seats for each of the top two teams in both pools.
Cignal has now made it back to the playoff round of a PVL tournament after failing to make it out of the All-Filipino Conference play-ins earlier this year, settling for a dismal ninth-place finish.
Thunderbelles sent crashing
ZUS Coffee failed to double down on a breakthrough win over Creamline on Sunday, absorbing its second defeat of the preseason tournament in their first match that did not extend to five sets.
Chinnie Arroyo impressed again for the Thunderbelles with 20 attack points.
Chai Troncoso pitched in nine markers as newcomer Fiola Ceballos was two points shy of a double-double with eight points and 14 receptions.
ZUS Coffee has one last pool play assignment against Chery Tiggo in Candon City on July 29 as playoff-bound Cignal takes a lengthy break while waiting for its quarterfinals opponent.
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