MANILA, Philippines – The Cignal HD Spikers advanced to the 2025 PVL On Tour quarterfinals thanks to an explosive effort from Erika Santos, who scored a career-high 30 points in a resounding four-set triumph over ZUS Coffee. Following Cignal’s shocking four-set loss to Chery Tiggo in Passi City, the breakout performance followed a restless night.

At the City of Passi Arena, the HD Spikers won with a dominating comeback, going up 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16. The charge was propelled by Santos, who scored 30 points with 29 attacks and 1 block. Her offensive prowess and defensive toughness helped redirect Cignal, and she chipped in eight digs as well.

Santos was agitated and highly motivated after seeing Cignal lose their first match of the tournament after sweeping through three of their pool matches. Due to the absence of Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler, who were representing their country in the SEA V.League, the team had trouble coordinating its attacks and committed 33 unforced errors in their loss against Chery Tiggo. Because of this slip-up, everyone had to take stock and start over.

When Santos faced ZUS Coffee in their match, he welcomed the challenge. From the very beginning, she established the tone by relentlessly attacking the opponent with strong right-handed smashes. The opening two sets were dominated by the Spikers, thanks to her unrelenting offensive blitz. Cignal slammed the door on their opponent with authority in the fourth set after Santos refocused after a minor third-set slip.

Santos showed her versatility beyond her scoring. She showed her dedication to floor defense and ball control with eight digs, and her one block gave her a little more muscle at the net. In addition, Jackie Acuña and Ishie Lalongisip were great teammates who provided significant support. Lalongisip dominated reception with thirteen superb digs and added fifteen points, an ace, and a block. Acuña provided important support in the frontcourt by scoring 11 points and adding three kill blocks.

With 27 brilliant sets and six points of his own, veteran setter Gel Cayuna expertly directed the offense. With 15 excellent digs and steady play in both serve reception and transition defense, libero Buding Duremdes was the rock of the back row defense.

With the victory, Cignal secured a spot in the quarterfinals and avoided having to play in a sudden-death round because they finished in the top two of Pool B. Throughout the group stage, their 4-1 record demonstrated both dominance and depth.

The pinnacle of her career was a watershed moment in Santos’s professional development. Her development since joining the HD Spikers has been steady; in her first four games with the team, she averaged 14.25 points. She is 27 years old. Emotional intensity, accountability, and development under duress were on full display in this performance, which surpassed her previous accomplishments.

A larger renaissance on the squad was mirrored by her comeback. Internal review helped Cignal recover from the previous night’s crushing setback by identifying and fixing problems with execution, communication, and poise. When they came back, the squad was much more focused, and they played better volleyball and executed their strategies with more precision.

The answer that head coach Shaq Delos Santos had hoped for after challenging the team to recover from the loss was precisely what he got. He praised the team for learning from their errors, making the necessary adjustments, and performing admirably.

A combination of skill, perseverance, and planning led to the day’s triumph, which was more than the sum of any one individual’s efforts. Cignal has established itself as a formidable opponent thanks to their remarkable defensive resolve, ability to adjust swiftly, and fair distribution of scoring duties.

The Spikers enter the quarterfinals with a sense of purpose, renewed faith, and confidence. Erika Santos’s game-changing performance motivates and inspires the team. Her leadership skills have raised expectations for the postseason, and her dynamic weaponry—her ability to deliver under pressure—makes her an invaluable asset to Cignal.

The future of Cignal depends on the cohesiveness and depth of its team. To keep your energy up and your techniques sharp, you’ll need to prep between matches.