Photo credit: PVL

Cignal pulled off a gutsy comeback on Tuesday night, outlasting Creamline in a wild, momentum-swinging five-set duel, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-11, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.

The match had everything—breakaways, rallies, challenges, and pressure moments—but when the lights burned brightest, Cignal stayed composed.

At the heart of the win was Gel Cayuna, who took full control of the deciding set. She mixed her sets beautifully, spread the offense around, and kept Creamline’s defense scrambling. She wrapped up the night with an impressive 28 excellent sets and a steady hand that guided Cignal through the tense finish.

Import KT Trebichavska also stepped up big-time, outdueling Creamline’s Coco Schwan in a tight endgame that added yet another chapter to their heated rivalry.

“We composed ourselves in the stretch since we know how Creamline plays in Set 5,” Cayuna said, after Cignal rallied back from a 1-2 hole to sweep the final two sets.

The match lasted two hours and 11 minutes, and the victory capped Cignal’s late push in the preliminaries, helping them finish with a 5-3 record, matching Creamline’s as both teams brace for what could be a fiery quarterfinal showdown.

“Tinapangan lang namin,” Cayuna added, summing up their fifth-set grit.

But grit wasn’t the only story. Cignal’s offense was sharp and unpredictable. Cayuna orchestrated plays that gave Vanie Gandler clean looks, while Jackie Acuña and Roselyn Aquino scored off slides, quick sets, and running attacks.

The fifth set opened tight, but Cignal gained breathing room at 6-4 after back-row hits from Gandler. Then came the drama: a Trebichavska back-row attack overturned by a Creamline challenge—only for Cignal to counter with their own successful challenge to regain the point and a 7-4 lead.

Cignal pushed ahead 9-4 after a Trebichavska ace, but Creamline—true to form—fought back with a three-point run. Service errors from both sides added even more tension, but Cignal held steady. Trebichavska eventually delivered the knockout blows, scoring late and sealing the victory with an off-the-block hit.

Four Super Spikers hit double digits:
• Trebichavska – 20 points
• Gandler – 15 points
• Aquino – 12 points
• Acuña – 10 points

Rookie Jessa Ordiales chipped in nine, while Erika Santos contributed eight in a quieter but still solid performance. Libero Dawn Catindig was outstanding with 28 excellent digs, anchoring Cignal’s floor defense.

For Creamline, import Schwan carried the load with 25 points, while Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos added nine each. Lorie Bernardo finished with eight, and Michele Gumabao added seven.