With a familiar core intact, the Cignal Super Spikers head into the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference betting that continuity can finally deliver the results.
Cignal is heading into the 2026 PVL season banking on its young and talented core.
Rather than retooling during the busy offseason, the Super Spikers are trusting that time, chemistry, and shared experience will translate into better results.
The upcoming All-Filipino Conference will determine whether that belief is justified.
A season that tested patience
- All-Filipino Conference: 9th place
- PVL On Tour: 4th place
- Invitational Conference: 5th place
- Reinforced Conference: 7th place
It was an up-and-down season for Cignal, which showed glimpses of being a championship-contending team. However, when the playoffs came around, the Super Spikers fell short of taking down other title contenders.
One key addition, familiar roles
Key addition: Ivy Perez
The 30-year-old Perez adds depth to the setter rotation and provides another option in ball control and floor defense.
While it won’t necessarily move the needle for the Super Spikers, the team's focus remains on maximizing what it already has.
Trusting the core
Cignal will once again be led by a group that is familiar with the system, namely star spikers Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, along with team captain Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
Gandler and Santos are expected to carry the scoring load, while Macandili-Catindig sets the tone defensively.
Around that core are dependable pieces like Rose Doria-Aquino, Gel Cayuna, Jackie Acuña, and Jewel Encarnacion, giving head coach Shaq Delos Santos multiple options.
The expectation is that with another full conference together, execution—particularly in tight sets—will improve.
The real test
For Cignal, the question is not talent but translation.
Can continuity finally lead to consistency? Can familiarity turn close losses into wins? And can this core raise its level when the stakes are highest?
The answers will shape the Super Spikers’ All-Filipino campaign starting on January 31.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.