PVL: Cignal sweeps Capital1 to book qualifying round berth

Vanie Gandler took charge to help Cignal blank Capital1, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, and punch its ticket to the 2026 PVL Open Conference qualifying round on Saturday at the Filoil Centre. 

Gandler poured in 23 points anchored on 21 attacks and two blocks, laced with eight receptions as the Super Spikers improve to 6-2 and became the second team to reach the next round alongside sister team PLDT (6-1). 

Cignal turned a narrow 13-14 lead to a 19-14 advantage when Erika Santos, Gandler, and Rose Doria fueled a 5-1 rampage that separated them from the Solar Spikers. 

Gandler then completed a combination play that further widened the gap to six, 22-16. But Bella Belen came alive to spark a last-gasp comeback attempt as she served an ace and Shaya Adoarador buried a hammer from the left side to pull Capital1 to within four 20-24. 

Gandler, though, responded with a down-the-line kill before Tine Tiamzon closed it out with a bullet from the opposite side.

Santos finished with 13 points while Erin Pangilinan and Doria each chipped in eight and six markers. 

Belen's efforts saw her tally 16 points and nine digs while Sydney Niegos chipped in 10 markers as the Solar Spikers absorbed their second loss in a row and fell to a 3-5 card. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News