In one of the most shocking upsets in Premier Volleyball League (PVL) history, Galeries Tower stunned the heavily favored Cignal HD Spikers, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, to secure a quarterfinals berth in the All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, February 27, at the Philsports Arena.

From the opening set, the Highrisers played with relentless aggression, overpowering the third-seeded Cignal squad with their fearless attacking. Andrea Marzan’s quick hit set up five match points, and France Ronquillo’s clutch crosscourt winner sealed the two-hour, six-minute shocker that sent ripples across the league.

A Breakthrough Win for the Highrisers

Ranked 10th coming into the match, Galeries Tower defied all odds. Their victory is being hailed as the biggest upset in PVL history, surpassing BaliPure’s memorable win over Creamline during the bubble tournament.

Their celebration after the final point was filled with emotion, as they embraced the magnitude of their achievement. For coach Lerma Giron, this win was not just a moment of glory, but a statement that Galeries Tower belongs among the PVL’s elite.

“Floating in heaven… very grateful—everything we went through, all our tears, blood, and sweat were worth it because we faced so many challenges before this game,” Giron said. “Since January, it was loss after loss after loss. Then we came to the realization that, wait, this can’t go on. But everything is a process—we really studied Cignal’s movements. So, thank You, Lord, all glory to God.”

Jimenez and Ronquillo Lead the Way

Ysa Jimenez delivered a career-best performance, exploding for 23 points built on 22 attacks, while France Ronquillo added 20 points, including 18 attacks, an ace, and a block. Ronquillo also anchored the defense with 13 excellent receptions.

Other key contributors included:

• Rookie Jewel Encarnacion – 11 points, 13 excellent receptions
• Roselle Baliton and Andrea Marzan – 8 points each
• Alyssa Eroa – 28 excellent digs
• Fhen Emnas – 14 excellent sets, 10 excellent digs

Galeries Tower dominated the first two sets, racing to a 15-5 advantage in Set 2. Cignal fought back with a third-set victory, but the Highrisers regrouped in the fourth and pulled away late to seal the upset.

Cignal Falls to Play-In Stage

Despite a 17-point effort from Vanie Gandler, Cignal struggled to recover from Galeries Tower’s relentless attack. Rookie Ishie Lalongisip had an all-around performance, tallying 13 points, 12 digs, and 11 receptions, while Jackie Acuña added 13 points.

Setter Gel Cayuna dished out 21 excellent sets and contributed 8 points, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the defeat.

Cignal’s woes worsened when Jovelyn Fernandez suffered a neck injury in the fourth set after colliding with Lalongisip during a defensive play. The HD Spikers will now battle for a quarterfinals spot through the play-in stage.

What’s Next?

The Highrisers will open their quarterfinals campaign on March 15, facing the winner of the Akari vs. Farm Fresh matchup. With momentum on their side, Galeries Tower aims to continue its Cinderella run.