PVL: Rivals become teammates as first-ever All-Star Game gets going
Alyssa Valdez with fellow Creamline Cool Smashers ahead of the PVL All-Star showcase in Candon, Ilocos Sur. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIReR.net
CANDON CITY—The All-Star players from Premier Volleyball League and Spikers’ Turf look forward to teaming up with their fierce rivals in their respective leagues in one spectacle, where they offer a fun but competitive game in the 2026 Volleyball All-Star Showcase on Friday at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Just a week removed from their finals duel in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Creamline and Cignal stars unite for Team Heart under PLDT’s bronze medalist coach Rald Ricafort when they take on Team Hustle at 5:30 p.m.
READ: Spikers’ Turf: Players eager to adapt to new coaches in All-Star
Creamline setter Jia De Guzman, 10-time Best Middle Blocker Pangs Panaga and Jema Galanza team up with Cignal’s Erika Santos to complete Heart’s starting line-up with PLDT’s Majoy Baron, Capital1 rookie Bella Belen and Akari libero Justine Jazareno.
The reserves are composed of Alyssa Valdez teaming up with Cignal’s MVP Vanie Gandler, Gel Cayuna and Dawn Catindig, as well as Nxled’s Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips, and Galeries rookie Jean Asis.
“I think they’ll do great. It’s my first time playing with Bella and Vanie, if I’m not mistaken, so it’s nice to be teammates with players that a lot of young fans look up to,” Valdez said in Filipino. “I’m excited to see how they prepare for games. Those little things can be inspiring for me, too.
“It’s great that after such an intense finals, we all get the chance to come together and just enjoy for the volleyball community.”
Cignal steps away
Gel Cayuna, Jackie Acuña, Dawn Catindig, Erika Santos, Vanie Gandler of the Cignal Super Spikers’ during a welcome dinner ahead of the Volleyball All-Star Showcase in Candon, Ilocos Sur. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Just days after their magical runner-up finish in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference, Cignal management announced on Tuesday that its PVL team is taking a leave after five years.
The Super Spikers are still processing the unfortunate development, taking this All-Star event as a chance to have fun and bond together as they go their separate ways and find new teams
READ: PVL: Brooke Van Sickle feels at home for All-Star showcase
“We want to give back to the fans by giving them a great game and enjoy for the last time [with Cignal],” said Catindig as they wear the Cignal patch on their All-Star jerseys.
Team Hustle is composed of a strong starting unit in PLDT’s quartet of Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes, Kianna Dy and Kath Arado, Creamline Finals MVP Bernadeth Pons, Choco Mucho’s Eya Laure and Akari’s Fifi Sharma.
Three-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle of Nxled, Akari’s Ivy Lacsina, Farm Fresh playmaker Alohi Robins-Hardy, Creamline’s Tots Carlos and Bea De Leon, Cignal’s Jackie Acuña and ZUS Coffee libero Alyssa Eroa complete the Team Hustle roster.
“I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what to expect because I’ve never been a part of any All-Star event like this before. So, I’m just really excited to be surrounded by such good athletes and wonderful people,” said Van Sickle. “Everyone’s super happy and awesome. It’s cool to get to know everybody slowly and everything. I’m really excited just for good volleyball and I hope the fans enjoy it too and this is a good experience for everybody.”
Galeries deputy coach John Abella, the first-ever PVL champion coach with Pocari Sweat in 2017, will call the shots for Team Hustle, as coach Shaq Delos Santos had to beg off to focus on the University of Santo Tomas’ stepladder semis knockout game against National University on May 2.
At 3 p.m., the Spikers’ Turf All-Star Game will showcase the men’s division with Team Power and Team Passion going head-to-head.
Team Power will be led by Savouge coach Sydney Calderon, coaching Criss Cross stars Jude Garcia, Adrian Villados, Noel Kampton, Lloyd Josafat, Kim Malabunga and Menard Guerrero and her player Louie Ramirez.
Team Passion, on the other hand, will be coached by Criss Cross mentor Tai Bundit, handling Savouge’s Mark Calado, Vince Imperial, Giles Torres, and Rikko Marmeto with his Criss Cross pair Alche Gupiteo and Poy Colinares and Jau Umandal of Alpha Insurance.
