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Cignal Shocks Unbeaten ZUS Coffee As Erika Santos Takes Over
Photo credit: PVL
Just when everyone thought ZUS Coffee looked untouchable in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, Cignal stepped in and proved otherwise.
The Cignal Super Spikers — once shaky at the start of the season — showed they’re now a completely different squad. And at the center of their resurgence? Erika Santos, who delivered one of her sharpest performances yet.
Santos led Cignal to a stunning straight-set upset of the previously undefeated Thunderbelles, 25-12, 26-24, 25-23, on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Her explosion — 19 points on 13 attacks, three blocks, and three aces — earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week (Nov. 10–16) presented by Pilipinas Live. It was a performance that not only handed ZUS Coffee its first loss but also kept Cignal’s second-round surge alive.
The 26-year-old opposite hitter, now a two-time weekly awardee, said her big night came from the faith her team has in her.
“Thankful ako kasi buo ’yung trust ng teammates ko. Nag-stick lang kami sa game plan and buti nag-work,” Santos said.
This isn’t the first time she’s brought out her best against ZUS Coffee. She once dropped a career-high 30 points on the Thunderbelles during her MVP-winning run in the 2025 PVL On Tour. But Santos insists she’s not fixated on any particular opponent.
“Honestly, hindi naman ako tumitingin sa team. Ang focus ko is kung paano kami nagje-jell. Thankful lang ako na every time na ZUS ang kalaban, maganda ’yung resulta,” she added.
With the win, Cignal improved to 4-3, landing sixth in the standings and eventually punching a quarterfinal ticket in a crowded mid-table battle.
Santos edged several top contenders for the weekly award, including Farm Fresh’s Alohi Robins-Hardy and PLDT’s Savi Davison, as well as imports like Eli Rousseaux, Lindsey Vander Weide, Annie Mitchem, Courtney Schwan, and Yunieska Batista.
The Cignal Super Spikers — once shaky at the start of the season — showed they’re now a completely different squad. And at the center of their resurgence? Erika Santos, who delivered one of her sharpest performances yet.
Santos led Cignal to a stunning straight-set upset of the previously undefeated Thunderbelles, 25-12, 26-24, 25-23, on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Her explosion — 19 points on 13 attacks, three blocks, and three aces — earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week (Nov. 10–16) presented by Pilipinas Live. It was a performance that not only handed ZUS Coffee its first loss but also kept Cignal’s second-round surge alive.
The 26-year-old opposite hitter, now a two-time weekly awardee, said her big night came from the faith her team has in her.
“Thankful ako kasi buo ’yung trust ng teammates ko. Nag-stick lang kami sa game plan and buti nag-work,” Santos said.
This isn’t the first time she’s brought out her best against ZUS Coffee. She once dropped a career-high 30 points on the Thunderbelles during her MVP-winning run in the 2025 PVL On Tour. But Santos insists she’s not fixated on any particular opponent.
“Honestly, hindi naman ako tumitingin sa team. Ang focus ko is kung paano kami nagje-jell. Thankful lang ako na every time na ZUS ang kalaban, maganda ’yung resulta,” she added.
With the win, Cignal improved to 4-3, landing sixth in the standings and eventually punching a quarterfinal ticket in a crowded mid-table battle.
Santos edged several top contenders for the weekly award, including Farm Fresh’s Alohi Robins-Hardy and PLDT’s Savi Davison, as well as imports like Eli Rousseaux, Lindsey Vander Weide, Annie Mitchem, Courtney Schwan, and Yunieska Batista.
Nov 17, 2025
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