Erika Santos powers Cignal past Akari into PVL On Tour semifinals

The Cignal HD Spikers continued their strong form in the ongoing 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour preseason tournament by sweeping the Akari Chargers, 25-20, 25-11, 28-26, in the quarterfinals on Thursday, August 7, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Leading the charge for Cignal was Erika Santos, who delivered an impressive 24-point performance, including 22 kills on 43 percent attack efficiency. She caught fire in the second set, scoring 11 points, and sealed the win with the game-clinching spike. Santos received ample support from Roselyn Doria, who added 10 points, while Ishie Lalongisip chipped in nine. Tin Tiamzon and Acuna contributed six points each, while Gel Cayuna orchestrated the offense with 18 excellent sets and also scored three points.

“I’m just taking it as motivation—the sets, the reps, the trust they give me. I’ve started to really embrace all of it. And it made me realize, ‘Ah, so this is my role.’ So I’m owning it and using it to push myself,” Santos said in the post-match press conference.

“I didn’t even realize it was straight points. I was just focused—whatever kind of set Ate Gel gives me, I just go for the hit. Whatever she gives, I go for it. I’m really thankful because she trusts me,” she added.

This marks Santos’ second standout performance of the tournament, following her career-high 30 points in Cignal’s four-set victory over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on July 20 in Passi. The 26-year-old is now the top scorer in the ongoing PVL On Tour and has helped Cignal win five of their last six matches.

Erika Santos on her solid showing for Cignal. #PVLonTour #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tUMgo5xyh3

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 7, 2025

“It’s really about the trust we have in our team and our players,” said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos. “We had quite a long rest before this game, so we used that time to prepare. We focused on strengthening our foundation and made sure we invested in our preparation.”

“We knew we were going up against a team with tall, experienced players. Akari’s attacks were intense, and their blocks gave us a hard time. We also expected the match to get close. What really helped was how well we prepared,” he added.

Akari, meanwhile, will miss out on the semifinals after back-to-back podium finishes in the 2024 Reinforced and All-Filipino Conferences.

Cignal, who finished only ninth in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, will next face the winner of the Nxled Chameleons vs. Chery Tiggo Crossovers matchup in the semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.