What began as a dominant two-set performance by the HD Spikers turned into a nerve-wracking third-set thriller, one that tested their composure, mental fortitude and hunger for redemption.
The Cool Smashers, known for their championship poise, erased a five-point deficit late in Set 3 and saved multiple match points in a gripping exchange that showcased the finest in Premier Volleyball League drama. But the HD Spikers, retooled and recharged, matched their rivals in intensity and outlasted them in a dogfight of nerves and wits.
Cignal looked poised to cruise after seizing a 23-18 lead on a well-placed Heather Guino-o shot to Zone 1. But Creamline, banking on its late-game pedigree, clawed back with three straight points. A service error from Kyle Negrito handed Cignal match point at 24-21 – only for the HD Spikers to wobble.
Back-to-back miscues by Erika Santos and a Michele Gumabao crosscourt attack tied the set at 24.
Still, Cignal refused to fold as Guino-o delivered an off-the-block hit, but Gumabao countered with a crosscourt kill and Santos restored order with a smart attack before Sheena Toring came up with a clutch block, knotting it anew at 26.
That’s when Ishie Lalongisip emerged as the unlikeliest hero in the most crucial of moments. Denied on her first match-point attempt, she got a second chance when setter Gel Cayuna went back to her.
This time, Lalongisip delivered – twice – her last powerful hit bouncing off the Creamline defense and caroming out-of-bounds for the match-clincher.
It was Cignal’s first win over Creamline since the 2022 Reinforced Conference semifinals and marked the Cool Smashers’ first straight-sets loss since a March 16 setback to Chery Tiggo.
Cayuna, later named Best Player of the Game, dished out 22 excellent sets and chipped in five points, outclassing Creamline’s Negrito, who finished with just 11 excellent sets.
The one-hour, 43-minute victory vaulted Cignal to the solo lead in Pool B at 3-0, leaving Creamline trailing at 2-1. It also extended the team’s early hot streak following straight-set wins over Akari and Capital1 – and served notice of its serious bid to rise from a forgettable ninth-place finish in the last All-Filipino Conference.
“We studied our opponents’ weaknesses and stuck to where we had the advantage,” said Cayuna. “It was all about execution and staying composed.”
Roselyn Doria-Aquino tallied 10 points, Tin Tiamzon added four, while rookie Erin Pangilinan chipped in three in a spirited Set 3 performance. Libero Buding Duremdes anchored the floor defense with 16 excellent digs for the HD Spikers, who dominated the net with eight blocks, six more than the Cool Smashers.
For Creamline, Gumabao led with 11 points, while Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza combined for 17. But the Cool Smashers, despite their third-set resurgence, couldn't match Cignal’s resolve when it mattered most.
From a turbulent offseason to a roaring 3-0 start, Cignal proved it’s no longer just out to compete – but to conquer.
