Santos supplying Cignal spark

With ZUS Coffee emerging as one of the strongest teams in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference, most opponents have struggled to slow down its momentum.

But surging Cignal showed that it is no longer the same team from opening week.

At the center of their turnaround was Erika Santos, who powered the Super Spikers to a stunning sweep of previously unbeaten Thunderbelles, 25-12, 26-24, 25-23, on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Santos erupted for a game-high 19 points built on 13 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, earning her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live honor for the period of 10 to 16 November.

Her standout effort not only dealt the Thunderbelles their first loss of the conference but also extended the Super Spikers’ crucial second-round push.

The 26-year-old opposite hitter, now a two-time weekly awardee, credited her performance to the trust of her teammates.

“Of course, I’m thankful for the trust that my teammates are giving me. I’m thankful that we are sticking together and are working as a team.” Santos said.

Santos has built a reputation for shining in matchups against ZUS Coffee after previously setting her career-high 30 points against the Thunderbelles during her Most Valuable Player run in the 2025 PVL On Tour.

Still, the former De La Salle University standout downplayed the narrative, choosing to highlight Cignal’s strong chemistry instead.

“Honestly, I don’t care what team we’re facing,” she said.

“My focus is on my game and how we are jelling as a team. Other than that, I’m thankful for performing well every time we play against ZUS Coffee.”

Her latest performance lifted Cignal to a 4-3 win-loss record, placing the Super Spikers sixth in the standings and eventually securing a quarterfinal berth amid a tight mid-table race.

Santos edged out other standout performances for the weekly honor, including Farm Fresh’s Alohi Robins-Hardy and PLDT’s Savi Davison.

She also got the vote over imports Farm Fresh’s Eli Rousseaux, Petro Gazz’s Lindsey Vander Weide, Akari’s Annie Mitchem, Creamline’s Courtney Schwan and Chery Tiggo’s Yunieska Batista for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering professional volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.

The Super Spikers now look to sustain their upswing as they face the Creamline Cool Smashers on Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.