It went the distance again—only this time, the Cignal Super Spikers made sure the ending changed.
Days after their grueling five-set clash, the Super Spikers and Creamline Cool Smashers found themselves locked in another decider. But unlike their previous meeting, it was Cignal that held its nerve, carving out a 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory to secure the second semifinals berth in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Erika Santos set the tone early in the fifth, firing off a blistering start as Cignal signaled its intent. When the match tightened and every possession carried weight, Vanie Gandler took over, delivering in the clutch with composed, timely hits.
Still, Creamline refused to fold.
Creamline, Cignal in Tight Ending
The Cool Smashers clawed back from the brink, erasing two match points behind Tots Carlos while capitalizing on a rare Gandler error to extend the frame—eerily similar to their 16-14 escape in their last five-set encounter.
At 15-all, the match hung in the balance.
Gandler and Alyssa Valdez traded heavy blows before momentum cracked Creamline’s way. A service error from Pangs Panaga handed Cignal a crucial edge, and on the next sequence, Valdez’s attack sailed long. A late challenge confirmed it—no touch, no reprieve.
Cignal had its breakthrough.
Santos and Gandler powered the offense with 26 and 22 points, respectively, while Gel Cayuna orchestrated the win with 35 excellent sets and 11 points, highlighted by gutsy 1-2 plays that kept Creamline guessing.
“Salamat sa teammates ko kasi kumapit talaga lahat,” Cayuna said after the two-hour, 30-minute battle—the longest match of the conference so far. “Sa semis, kapag pressure game na, alam na namin kung paano i-overcome.”
Bernadeth Pons delivered 20 points in her return, while Valdez led Creamline with 18. Panaga, Carlos, and Bea de Leon added 14, 12, and 11, respectively.
But in the end, Cignal proved steadier when it mattered most.
Battle-tested and unshaken, the Super Spikers march into the Final Four alongside PLDT, armed with lessons forged in pressure.
Creamline, meanwhile, drops to the Play-In round, where it must beat the winner of the Akari–Choco Mucho duel to stay alive.
What’s Next in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference
Thursday, March 28 • Ninoy Aquino Stadium • Play-In
Nxled Chameleons vs. Galeries Tower Highrisers, 4:00 p.m.
Akari Chargers vs. Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 6:30 p.m.
