PVL: Cignal clinches first All-Filipino finals after beating Creamline

Cignal is advancing to its first-ever finals appearance in the import-less tournament after pulling off a 25-13, 13-25, 25-16, 25-16 win over Creamline in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Vanie Gandler delivered the finishing blows as the Super Spikers gave the Cool Smashers, the runner-up finishers in the last edition, their first loss in the single-round semifinals. 

The win sent Cignal to a 2-0 start to clinch the first of the two finals tickets while Creamline fell to 1-1. 

Cignal unloaded a 4-0 run in Set 4 to secure a 15-8 lead, but the Cool Smashers responded with a 4-0 swing led by Bernadeth Pons and Bea de Leon, whose quick kill trimmed the deficit to three, 15-12.

Gandler ignited both offensively and defensively, smashing a kill from the left wing before denying Michele Gumabao and completing a combination play to give Cignal a 21-13 cushion. 

Gandler then shattered the Creamline wall for a 23-14 lead while setter Gel Cayuna ended a long rally by smartly returning a free ball to Zone 1 as they grabbed the match point, 24-15. 

Even from the back row, Gandler made sure her presence was still felt after hitting an easy ball that caught the Creamline defense by surprise and clinched the victory for the Super Spikers. 

Gandler finished with 24 points built on 22 attacks and two blocks while 13 markers and 10 receptions.

Erika Santos poured in 14 markers as Doria chipped in 10.

—JKC, GMA News