Cignal managing Holy Week break with semis looming
The Cignal Super Spikers remained locked in this Holy Week, as they carefully manage their schedule to keep themselves in top shape and make sure they are armed with their best mentality heading to the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinal round starting on April 11 at Mall of Asia Arena.
Cignal, which missed three of the last four PVL semifinals, finally made its comeback to the top four after pulling off an epic comeback against powerhouse Creamline, 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15, in the qualifying match last week at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Super Spikers coach Shaq Delos Santos believes their past heartbreaks fueled his wards—led by Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos and setter Gel Cayuna—to work harder and regain their contender status.
They will be joining PLDT in the semifinal round robin, where the top two finishers will arrange a best-of-three title series.
“I’ve really missed being in the semifinals. I think the challenges we went through played a big part, along with how the core of the team has grown and improved,” said Delos Santos in Filipino.
“You can see how much they want this, and we’ve also been giving them the right skills and situational awareness. I’m really proud that we made it this far. And when we get to the semis, we’ll make sure to step up and be even better.”
The challenge now for Delos Santos is balancing their recovery, rest and training with the Holy Week break while still waiting for the two other semifinalists. Creamline and Akari clash for a semifinal berth, followed by the Nxled-Farm Fresh do-or-die game on April 7 at Filoil Centre in San Juan.
‘Very challenging for us’
“To be honest, it’s going to be very challenging for us, especially for me, in terms of balancing the program. One of the most important things is how we help the players recover. The weather is different now, it’s hotter compared to before, so recovery and mindset will be key,” said the longtime Cignal coach.
Good thing for the Super Spikers, they’ve experienced more than a week of lull before their next game during the preliminary round, so Delos Santos knows exactly what to do.
“We’ve had games with eight or nine days in between, but this is a different situation, especially with Holy Week coming up. This is a good opportunity for us to recover, come up with a solid game plan, and further improve our skills as a team and as individuals,” he said.
Cignal last made the finals in the 2024 Invitational, but a PVL title has remained elusive for the franchise. Now that they are a round away from returning to the big stage, Delos Santos and the Super Spikers won’t waste this golden opportunity.
“Going into the semifinals, we really need to double or even triple our preparation. Our game plan in every training session will be very crucial,” said Delos Santos.
