CIGNAL made a strong statement ahead of the playoffs with a 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-11 win over defending champion Creamline in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Ynares Center II.
Katrin Trebichavska fired five of her 20 points in the tiebreak to send Cignal to No. 5 in the home stretch of the seeding race.
The Super Spikers have now pulled level with the Cool Smashers at 5-3, though Creamline remains in control of the No. 4 seed with a higher match-point tally, 17 to 13.
Gel Cayuna tallied 28 excellent sets, six digs, and three points in the five-set grind, cementing Cignal’s fate to either finish fifth or sixth at the end of the group stage.
Vanie Gandler delivered 15 points, 10 receptions, and seven digs, while Rose Doria-Aquino anchored the net defense with five blocks to round out her 12-point outing.
With one playdate left, only Petro Gazz can still challenge Cignal’s grip on the fifth seed.
But doing so would require either a three or four-set win over PLDT on Thursday capped by a superior final set ratio to complete the overtake.
Since whipping Creamline by seven points in the opening frame, Cignal mounted late rallies in Sets 2 and 3 that both fell short.
Creamline’s 18-11 lead in Set 2 shrank to just one at 21-20, and the third set nearly spiraled after Cignal uncorked a 12-3 run to trim a 10-21 deficit to 22-24.
But Vanie Gandler’s attack error halted the Cignal surge in the third frame and spared the Cool Smashers from a full-on collapse.
In the fourth set, the Super Spikers rode the energy of 18th overall pick Jessa Ordiales, who had nine points and emerged as an unlikely hero in erecting a nine-point cushion to send the match to sudden death.
Cool Smashers crash
Creamline shot itself in the foot with the prelims-ending loss, as it can no longer contend for a top-three finish heading into the knockout quarterfinals.
The Cool Smashers will now settle for the No. 4 seed and await whichever team clinches the fifth spot.
Courtney Schwan carried Creamline in the defeat with 25 points and 16 receptions.
Alyssa Valdez chipped in nine points and eight digs as she rotated with Tots Carlos in one of the two outside hitter spots, with Carlos also finishing with nine markers.
Lorie Bernardo and Michele Gumabao added eight and seven points, respectively.
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