Cignal continued its winning streak in the PVL All-Filipino Conference eliminations with a dramatic 25-17, 26-24, 20-25, 30-28 victory over Farm Fresh at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Super Spikers combined speed, poise, and mental toughness to withstand relentless pressure in a match that lasted over two hours.

Even when Farm Fresh threatened to seize control, Cignal stayed composed. The team erased a five-point deficit in the second set and responded to a third-set loss with relentless defense and timely attacks. The fourth set became a gripping test of nerves, with multiple deadlocks and set-point saves keeping the crowd on edge.

Gandler delivers a triple-double performance

Vanie Gandler was the driving force behind Cignal’s performance, scoring 25 points while registering 17 excellent digs and 15 receptions for a triple-double. Her all-around play earned her Best Player of the Game honors. “Everything we trained for showed today,” Gandler said, praising the collective effort over individual accolades.

Erika Santos contributed 15 points with clutch conversions late in the game, while playmaker Gel Cayuna managed 19 excellent sets that consistently kept Farm Fresh guessing. The fourth set climaxed in a tense exchange of points until a foot fault by Riri Meneses handed Cignal the final match point. Santos calmly converted it, securing the Super Spikers’ 3-0 lead in the standings.

Cignal’s depth and discipline shine through

Cignal’s win highlighted the team’s growing maturity, converting 29 free points compared to Farm Fresh’s 21. Despite strong performances from Trisha Tubu (19 points), Ces Molina (18), and Royse Tubino (14), Farm Fresh faltered at critical moments.

With a showdown against unbeaten Nxled (2-0) set for Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Cignal aims to maintain momentum through recovery and disciplined training. “Tomorrow is a new day. We focus on recovery, then it’s back to work,” said Gandler.