After two years of waiting, the Cignal Super Spikers are back in the championship round.
The Super Spikers sealed their return with a four-set win over the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-13, 13-25, 25-16, 25-16, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
For Cignal, the breakthrough was not just about the result—it was about everything it took to get there.
“It’s hard for us to answer kasi parang we can’t explain how deep this is for us,” said Vanie Gandler, who finished with 24 points.
“Kasi we know how hard we worked for this. I just have so much gratefulness for the team kasi the player I am today is because of them. And then the way the team is performing is because we just want the best for each other,” she added.
Changes, Heartaches, and a Rebuild for Cignal
Since their last Finals appearance in the 2024 Invitational Conference, the Super Spikers have undergone significant changes, losing key players while rebuilding their core with new additions and rookies.
The transition did not immediately translate to results, as Cignal struggled to regain its footing and managed just one semifinal appearance in the conferences that followed.
That made this return all the more meaningful.
“Ano po, siguro patunay talaga, lalo kay Coach Shaq, na ang daming nawala sa amin, nabuwag ‘yung core namin. Pero nagbuo ulit si Coach Shaq, and sobrang thankful kami sa bawat isa,” said Gel Cayuna.
“Kinapitan namin ‘yung bawat isa, and ‘di na kami naghanap ng kung sino-sino pa. Kung ano ‘yung meron kami, ‘yun ‘yung nilalaban namin, ‘yun ‘yung tinatrabaho namin para makarating dito sa ano na ’to. Sobrang grateful ako sa lahat,” she added.
All for the Team
For Gandler, Cignal’s success has been anchored on playing for something bigger than themselves.
“It’s really not for ourselves, it’s for each other. And so it’s just…I can’t explain how meaningful it is for me to reach the finals again,” she said.
Head coach Shaq delos Santos echoed the same sentiment, pointing to the team’s resilience through years of setbacks.
“Sobrang dami ng sakit na naramdaman namin, siguro for how many years and conferences talagang hindi kami nainip. Tinanggap lang namin ‘yung mga bagay na kailangan nating matanggap, and sobrang natuto kami dun,” he said.
“Good thing kasi ‘di kami nag-give up, and yeah, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na papasok kami sa finals.”
Gandler, Cayuna, and the rest of the Super Spikers are now awaiting their finals foe, which could be either Creamline or the Farm Fresh Foxies.
