RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL — The Cignal HD Spikers fought hard to win the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Saturday at the Ynares Center Montalban. They won in five sets: 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-15, and 16-14.
It was a great start for Cignal’s Slovak import Katrin Trebichavská, who had a great all-around performance. The 25-year-old addition scored 21 points, including 17 attacks, three aces, and one block. She also helped Cignal’s floor defense stay strong with 10 great digs and seven receptions.
Erika Santos, the PVL On Tour MVP and team captain, scored 21 points of her own, matching her new teammate’s output. She did this with 19 attacks, one block, and one ace.
The HD Spikers won the first set, but they had trouble with consistency in the second and third sets before getting back on track in the fourth. They took Set 4 by a wide margin, with more energy and better execution, to force a decider.
In the last set, both teams hit each other in a tense back-and-forth. After Chiara Permentilla and guest player Paola Martinez started a 3-0 run to give Nxled an 11-8 lead, it looked like they were going to win. But Cignal wouldn’t give up. Trebichavská, Tin Tiamzon, and Santos made some great plays to help them come back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the score at 12-all.
Cignal kept their cool and finished the comeback, giving them their second win of the conference. Nxled lost again, this time without star spiker Vanie Gandler, who missed her third straight match because of an injury that hasn’t been made public.
After the game, head coach Shaq delos Santos said, “Sobrang happy, of course, kasi panalo.” “A win is a win, even if it’s in five sets.” That’s what we want to do: win again. We’re so happy and proud of our team, especially Erika, who is celebrating her birthday, and of course, our new import.
The HD Spikers want to keep their momentum going as they continue their Reinforced Conference campaign. Trebichavská’s great debut and Cignal’s renewed confidence.
