The Cignal HD Spikers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Cignal shrugged off a shaky holiday break as it swept struggling Galeries Tower, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The HD Spikers, who saw key players Ces Molina and Riri Meneses leave the squad before the league resumed in 2025, moved up to a 5-1 win-loss card after the triumph, while the Highrisers have already lost six games in seven matches.
"Siyempre, malaking bagay para sa 'min to kasi 'yun na lang 'yung natitira naming players," said coach Shaq delos Santos, praising the remaining players' efforts.
Their roster is now down to 12 after Molina and Meneses' departure.
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"And then pangalawa, 'yun din naman 'yung naging commitment ng lahat, na kung ano 'yung role, ano 'yung kayang gawin, 'yung best na pwede niyang magawa, 'yun lang naman," Delos Santos also said.
Star spiker Vanie Gandler was the lone player on the taraflex who breached double digits, listing 17 points on 13 attacks, three aces, and a block, while newly minted captain Dawn Macandili-Catindig led the team on defense, tallying 19 excellent digs and four excellent receptions.
"I’m really happy with the performance of the team kasi inside the court, you can hear everyone leading in their own ways, as in teamwork talaga," said Gandler.
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Only leading by one in the opener, 14-13, Cignal made an 8-1 run for a safe 22-14 lead, a cushion the Highrisers could not come back to, as the HD Spikers turned to Jackie Acuna and Rose Doria-Aquino to close out the set 25-17.
The Shaq delos Santos-mentored squad had an efficient 9-0 start in the next frame, which later on ballooned to a 16-4 count. However, the gritty Highrisers climbed back, tearing that massive lead down to two, 21-19.
That comeback attempt fell short as Doria-Aquino found a spot for the ball to fall down, Jho Maraguinot suffered an attack error, Vanie Gandler scored a down-the-line hit, and Doria-Aquino fired the set-clinching kill at the middle for a 2-0 lead.
It was all Cignal from the final 22-19 mark of Set 3, as Rochelle Lalongisip fired a crosscourt kill, Ysa Jimenez botched an attack attempt, and Caroline Santos closed out the game with a surprise hit to conclude the one-hour, forty-minute volleyball affair.
No Galeries player reached beyond ten points, as Jimenez and Julia Coronel scored eight each for the losing side.