Cignal takes leave of absence from PVL campaign after breakthrough finals run 

Just as Cignal Super Spikers appeared to be closing in on a long-awaited breakthrough, the momentum came to an abrupt pause.

Days after reaching the Finals of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference—their deepest run yet—the franchise announced it would step away from the league, opting for a leave of absence that immediately reshapes the competitive landscape.

“This is to officially announce that the Cignal Super Spikers – Women’s Volleyball Team has filed a Leave of Absence in the Premier Volleyball League,” the team said in a statement.

“This difficult decision was taken after careful review of Cignal’s strategic direction.”

No timeline was provided for their return, leaving uncertainty not just for the team, but for a league that had just witnessed one of its most competitive seasons.

The timing stands out.

Cignal had just completed a campaign that re-established them as a legitimate contender, powered by the rise of Vanie Gandler, who delivered a breakout conference worthy of MVP honors. Around her, a steady core that included Erika Santos, Gel Cayuna, Dawn Catindig, Rose Doria-Aquino, Jackie Acuña, and Tine Tiamzon formed a lineup that could match up with the league’s best.

Their Finals appearance, though ending in a sweep at the hands of the Creamline Cool Smashers, was still widely seen as a sign that the Super Spikers were on the verge of finally breaking through.

Instead, the team steps away at what could have been the start of something bigger. The move mirrors an earlier decision within the same organization. Cignal’s men’s team had already taken a leave of absence from Spikers’ Turf earlier this year, citing a similar internal reassessment.

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JUST IN: Cignal Super Spikers have officially filed a leave of absence from the Premier Volleyball League.

END OF AN ERA pic.twitter.com/gh5BfSAGep

— Torey Canino (@tj_canino) April 28, 2026

Once again, the franchise pointed to a broader evaluation of its direction—one that goes beyond on-court results.

Since joining the professional ranks in 2021, Cignal has built one of the most consistent resumes in the PVL. The team reached the podium in eight of 15 conferences, collecting three silver medals and five bronze finishes.

That consistency, however, came with a lingering gap—the elusive championship.

Despite multiple deep runs, the Super Spikers leave as the most decorated team in the league without a title, a distinction that underscores both their competitiveness and the narrow margins that defined their campaigns.

Cignal’s exit adds to a growing list of changes within the league. The departure follows the disbandment of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the earlier leave of absence taken by the Petro Gazz Angels, reducing the number of active teams and signaling a period of transition for the PVL.

For now, the Super Spikers step away not as a fading team, but as one that had just rediscovered its form.

And in that sense, their absence may be felt even more—because it comes not after decline, but right at the moment they seemed ready to finally win it all.

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