PVL: Cignal takes leave of absence just after silver medal finish
Cignal Super Spikers after a runner-up finish in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Just days after their magical runner-up finish in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, the Cignal Super Spikers are taking a leave of absence.
The management announced on Tuesday that Cignal is going on a hiatus after five years in the league, highlighted by three silver medals.
READ: Valdez gives Gandler her roses, says Cignal nears breakthrough PVL title
JUST IN: Days after a magical All-Filipino silver medal run, Cignal takes a leave of absence from the PVL. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/LOn6B35pyY
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 28, 2026
“This difficult decision was taken after careful review of Cignal’s strategic direction,” the team wrote. “Our deepest thanks go out to the players, coaches, and staff who have poured their hearts into this team over the years. And to our fans, who have stood by us, maraming, maraming salamat!”
Cignal left everything on the floor and dragged Creamline to a deciding fifth set in Finals Game 2. Despite the resilience of the Super Spikers, they succumbed to a heartbreaking 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 loss on Thursday in front of 17,358 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It marked Cignal’s final game in the PVL, with the club pulling the plug despite being a consistent podium finisher with three silver medals and five bronze.
The Super Spikers, handled by coach Shaq Delos Santos since joining the PVL in 2021, have produced three league MVPs, with Vanie Gandler receiving her first-ever individual award after playing her heart out in Game 2 with 26 points, 15 receptions, and 14 digs.
Cignal also turned former PLDT role player Erika Santos into an MVP in the PVL on Tour last year, joining ex-player Ces Molina, who won the top individual award in the 2023 Invitational Conference.
READ: PVL: Silver finish drives Cignal’s ‘motivation’ to get better
Delos Santos and his players, led by Gandler and Santos, were determined to bounce back and use another heartbreaking finals experience as fuel to capture the elusive title in the next season.
Santos is an All-Star starter in Candon on May 1 for Team Heart, with reserves Gandler, five-time Best Setter Gel Cayuna, and star libero Dawn Catindig. Team Hustle will be handled by Delos Santos, featuring reserve middle blocker Jackie Acuña.
With Cignal filing a leave, Gandler, Santos, Cayuna, Catindig, Acuña, Rose Doria-Aquino, Tin Tiamzon, Ishie Lalongisip, Jewel Encarnacion, Heather Guino-o, Jessa Ordiales, Gyzelle Sy, Ivy Perez, Ethan Arce, Pearl Denura, Erin Pangilinan, and Buding Duremdes, as well as Delos Santos and his coaching staff, automatically become free agents.
Cignal, which also pulled the plug on its Spikers’ Turf team early this year despite being the most successful men’s club in the country, was the third consecutive squad to file a leave in the PVL after Chery Tiggo last December and Petro Gazz this January and opted to support Nxled.
