Cignal punched a Final Four ticket after sweeping Akari, 25-20, 25-11, 28-26, in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Erika Santos picked up from where she left off in the preliminary round, dropping 24 points in a crisp 43 percent attacking efficiency for the HD Spikers.

Cignal found tough opposition from the Chargers in the third set after cruising in the first two. The HD Spikers squandered two match points but still pulled through in the end to set up a knockout semifinal against the survivor between Nxled and Chery Tiggo.

The semis will be played on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We controlled the first two sets but we also expected the game to be tight. I think the key here was how we prepared for this game,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said.

The HD Spikers came out with fresher legs coming off a three-week rest after securing an outright quarterfinal seat compared to Akari, which beat Petro Gazz in the knockout round last Tuesday.

Cignal used a 9-1 run to recover from a 7-11 deficit in the opening set and never looked back to draw first blood before picking apart the Chargers in the second frame to control the match.

Akari kept it close in the third set, saved a match point and even took a 25-24 set point advantage. The HD Spikers went back up, 26-25, before Grethcel Soltones knotted it at 26.

Tin Tiamzon scored for Cignal before Santos sealed the win with a spike that clearly landed on the sideline after a video challenge by Akari.

“We just held on since Akari made a good adjustment and execution in the third set. We just stuck with our system,” said Santos, who scored 22 of her points off kills.

Rose Doria-Aquino had 10 points while Ishie Lalongisip finished with nine markers for the HD Spikers, who had 47 attack points fueled by Gel Cayuna’s 18 excellent sets.

Akari saw its pre-season campaign come to a close despite the 13-point effort of Eli Soyud.

Celine Domingo had 11 markers while Soltones and Ivy Lacsina had lackluster showings with just four points apiece.