PVL: Erika Santos' 30-point explosion carries Cignal to QF; Creamline halts Chery Tiggo

Erika Santos powered Cignal to a hard-earned rebound victory with an explosive outing to lead her team past a spirited ZUS Coffee squad, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16, in the PVL On Tour on Sunday at the City of Passi Arena

The power-hitting opposite spiker erupted for a career-high 30 points to go with eight digs as the HD Spikers improved to 4-1 and clinched a quarterfinals spot in the preseason showcase. 

The Thunderbelles, who were just coming off a five-set stunner over perennial champion Creamline a day before, fell to an even 2-2 slate even after another huge outing from Chinnie Arroyo. 

Arroyo, whose 23-point performance against the Cool Smashers paved the way for ZUS Coffee's breakthrough win against Creamline, dropped 20 points this time around.

"Hindi lang ako nakukuntento sa kung ano pa 'yung kaya kong gawin. Gusto ko pang matuto and malaman 'yung areas for correction," Santos said. 

"Ito 'yung first time ko na umabot ng 20 pataas. Bumalik lang kami, in-acknowledge namin 'yung nangyari, 'yung mga pagkakamali, 'yung mga lapses. Hindi lang kami nag-stop." 

[I'm just not content. I want to learn and I want to know the areas for correction... This is my first time to reach 20 and above. We just came back, we acknowledged what happened, what went wrong, the lapses. We just didn't stop.]

Creamline, meanwhile, also learned a lot from that loss as the multi-titled squad carved out a 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18 win against erstwhile unbeaten Chery Tiggo. 

Alyssa Valdez unleashed a vintage performance with her 19 points anchored on 16 attacks and three aces while other veterans Jeanette Panaga and Michele Gumabao chipped in 17 markers apiece as they snapped a rare two-game losing streak to improve to 3-2 in Pool B. 

The Crossovers, who emerged victorious in their last three games including a four-set upset against fellow unbeaten Cignal oon Saturday, fell to 3-1 slate. 

"Syempre 'yung yesterday hindi maganda 'yung pagkatalo namin. Medyo masikip 'yung standing so nanalo kami ngayon," Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said. 

[Of course, with yesterday, it wasn't good that we lost. The standings are tight so we got the win today.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News