Cignal aims to stay on top

Games today:

(FilOil EcoOil Centre)

4 p.m. — Cignal vs Akari

6:30 p.m. — ZUS Coffee vs PLDT

After climbing to the solo top spot, Cignal intends to stay there when it marches back into battle in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

However, it will be a challenging task as the Super Spikers tackle an inspired Akari side in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser.

Cignal sports a 4-1 win-loss record and is coming off a rebound victory over erstwhile unbeaten sister-team PLDT, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, last Tuesday.

Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler have been consistent in their scoring and Gel Cayuna remains steady in keeping the Super Spikers’ offensive flow running smoothly.

But what has been Cignal’s most effective weapon in its early success in the season-ending tournament is its service reception.

The Super Spikers have prevented opponents from scoring service winners thrice — a rare feat in a field abundant with heavy-serving players.

“It doesn’t happen all the time (denying the opposing team of an ace). I guess it’s just because of our investment in service-receive and the players’ commitment,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said.

However, the former national team mentor knows it takes more than good receptions to bring down the Chargers.

Akari has dropped its first three games but has regained its confidence by beating star-studded Nxled, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, to enter the win column.

“They have veteran players and a very good coaching staff. So, we really have to prepare a good game plan to beat them,” Delos Santos added.

The Chargers will pin their hopes on Ivy Lacsina, who dropped 20 points last game, Ced Domingo, Eli Soyud, Fifi Sharma and Grethcel Soltones.

“It’s a huge boost for us to get our first win after a very bad start. We have to double our effort because we don’t want to end this round at the bottom four,” Akari coach Tina Salak said.

Meanwhile, the High Speed Hitters seek to get back on the winning track against slumping ZUS Coffee at 6:30 p.m.

PLDT slipped to a 3-1 slate at second spot tied with Creamline.

The Thunderbelles are coming from a 14-25, 18-25, 18-25, loss to Farm Fresh last week and are at the bottom with a 1-4 mark.