Cignal captured the bronze medal in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Second All-Filipino Conference after sweeping Chery Tiggo, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24, in their battle for third series on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The HD Spikers extended their record for most third-place finishes in the league with a fourth bronze medal in seven conferences. 

The bronze medalists were licking the wound of their three-game semifinals defeat to eventual winner Choco Mucho Flying Titans as they vowed to finish on the podium to end a fruitful season. 

Vanie Gandler’s impressive emergence was on full display as she delivered the pivotal lead-taking crosscourt shot in the endgame to finish with a team-high 22 points on 22 kills. 

Cignal recovered from an opening-set stumble before rolling past a feisty Chery Tiggo side the rest of the way. 

Team captain Ces Molina and veteran spiker Jov Gonzaga chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively, behind Gandler. 

In the fourth set, the HD Spikers couldn’t pull away for good as the Laure sisters kept knocking on their door until the game was tied at 16-all. 

The match went on to be knotted for the last time at 24-all as Pauline Gaston came through for the Crossovers, however, Gandler fired a crosscourt shot to bring the HD Spikers to the match point. 

After a prolonged challenge by Chery Tiggo for the last point that stalled Cignal’s victory, the referees eventually “overruled” the challenge called by the Crossovers.  

On the losing end, four Crossovers finished in double figures, with EJ and Eya tallying 17 and 16 points, respectively, in their first professional stint together as teammates. 

Cess Robles and Gaston had 13 and 11 markers on the losing end. 

Meanwhile, defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers eye a brilliant 15-0 conference record as their title defense continues in Game 2 of their finals duel against sister team and finals debutant Choco Mucho as of press time.