The Cignal Super Spikers didn’t just march into their first-ever Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals – they stormed their way in.

Determined to avoid a third straight grueling marathon showdown with the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Super Spikers leaned on a pivotal Set 3 comeback before unleashing a dominant fourth-set surge to secure a 25-13, 13-25, 25-16, 25-16 victory, punching their ticket to their third league finals appearance.

After dispatching Farm Fresh and now Creamline, Cignal clinched the first Finals berth with a 2-0 semifinal record. Even in the event of a loss to winless PLDT Thursday, the Super Spikers are assured of advancing alongside the winner of the Creamline-Farm Fresh showdown.

With identical 1-1 records, Creamline and Farm Fresh now battle for the remaining Finals spot in a virtual knockout duel.

In front of a predominantly Creamline crowd at the MOA Arena, the Cool Smashers briefly ignited the arena after a commanding Set 2 win. But Cignal had no intention of extending the contest.

At the forefront of the fourth-set takeover was Vanie Gandler, who unleashed a relentless offensive barrage that effectively drew the line between contender and pretender. Her intensity reverberated throughout the squad, fueling both ends of the floor as Cignal neutralized Creamline’s signature comeback threats.

“Every game is very hard, very crucial, so I’m just happy that we got today’s win,” said Gandler, who delivered a sensational triple-double performance – 24 points, 10 excellent digs, and 10 receptions – in a one-hour, 40-minute masterclass.

“We tried our best to stay composed, do our best and give our all because we trained for this. Thankfully it showed today,” she added.

While Gandler dominated the spotlight, setter Gel Cayuna orchestrated the offense with remarkable poise and precision. Her playmaking turned the match into a showcase of control and creativity, consistently putting hitters in optimal scoring positions.

Erika Santos added 14 points, while Tin Tiamzon chipped in 13. Roselyn Aquino contributed 10 markers, with Jackie Acuna and Cayuna adding six and five points, respectively.

After seizing a 2-1 set advantage, Cignal asserted full control in the fourth, breaking away to a 19-12 lead off a Gandler strike and transforming a tightly contested match into a one-sided finish.

At the heart of that decisive run was Cayuna’s masterful orchestration. Her sets – whether quick stand-ups or perfectly timed sit-downs – landed with surgical precision. Her instincts kept defenders guessing, often leaving them frozen between hesitation and reaction.

With Creamline attempting to stay alive at 15-23, Cayuna delivered a subtle but devastating two-handed push to Zone 1, effectively sealing the Cool Smashers’ fate.

The match ended fittingly – swift and emphatic – as Cignal, which reached the Reinforced Conference Finals in 2022 and the Invitational in 2024, closed it out via a successful floor-touch challenge following a chaotic rally that ultimately swung in their favor.

Bernadette Pons led Creamline with 17 points, while Jema Galanza added 10. However, the rest of the Cool Smashers struggled under Cignal’s relentless pressure. Tots Carlos finished with eight points, Bea de Leon had six, and Pangs Panaga chipped in five.

Alyssa Valdez was limited to just one point in a brief first-set appearance.

Earlier, in a pivotal third set, Cayuna once again dictated the tempo as Cignal’s offense came alive. Tiamzon capitalized with aggressive wing attacks, while Gandler and Santos maintained constant pressure through seamless rotations. The set – and momentum – was sealed by a thunderous Tiamzon hit that broke through Creamline’s defense.

It was a match defined by extremes, a tug-of-war that never quite stayed balanced for long. The opening two sets unfolded in tit-for-tat fashion, each side delivering a statement blow – Cignal suffocating Creamline to just 13 points in the first, only for the Cool Smashers to return the favor with equal force at the net. But just as rhythm seemed within reach, the pattern shifted into something far more decisive.

The odd-numbered sets told a different story – runaways rather than contests. In the pivotal third frame, the Super Spikers seized control once more and, this time, sustained their surge to decisively flip the script in the fourth.

And in a match that turned into a story of momentum swings – and in the most crucial stretches, the Super Spikers didn’t just rise above – they overwhelmed.