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Setter Gel Cayuna (photo above, center) and Vanie Gandler (right) spearhead the new Cignal nucleus that wants to prove something. —PVL IMAGES

Sister teams Cignal and PLDT square off on Tuesday, with the HD Spikers out to continue proving that there is life without two former vital cogs and the High Speed Hitters wanting to pick themselves up from a sorry loss in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at PhilSports Arena.

Nightly blackouts were planned from Monday to Thursday, but extra rationing will now take place during the day from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm on Sunday in 12 provinces, according to a presidential statement.

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After former captain Ces Molina and top middle blocker Riri Meneses departed unexpectedly, Cignal still managed to sweep Galeries Tower last week, and this match will be a good test to know how the new core led by Vanie Gandler and Gel Cayuna stacks up to a better foe.

The match is set at 6:30 p.m.

“Their performance didn’t change. Actually, they seem to enjoy it even more,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said in Filipino. “They are really committed to fulfilling their obligations and goals.”

The High Speed Hitters, on the other hand, aim to capitalize on their personnel advantage led by the prolific Savi Davison, who remains a formidable force after a 27-point outing in a losing cause against Choco Mucho.

However, lack of offensive support, where no other High Speed Hitter hitting twin digits offensively, proved costly in that match.

To turn the tide, the likes of Dell Palomata, Erika Santos, Fiola Ceballos, Mika Reyes and Majoy Baron will need to elevate their performances and overpower the resilient HD Spikers, now relying on the likes of Gandler, Jacqueline Acuña, Roselyn Doria-Aquino, Ishie Lalongisip and Judith Abil.

Meanwhile, Creamline looks to extend its winning streak to six as it takes on winless Nxled in the 4 p.m. opener. This matchup is expected to be a straightforward assignment for the Cool Smashers, who aim to tie the Petro Gazz Angels at the top of the 12-team standings with 17 points.

While not underestimating Nxled, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is likely to try new combinations as the Chameleons continue their quest for a breakthrough victory. Nxled’s recent loss—a four-set defeat to sister team Akari Chargers—further emphasizes the uphill battle they face against the defending champions.

“Of course, this win [against Capital1] is a big help, especially for our next game,” Creamline’s Sherwin Meneses said in Filipino. “Especially now that our key players are back and healthy, 100 percent, that’s really our No. 1 goal this year—to have them return by the start of the elimination round so that by the end or middle of it, they will all be at their peak.”

Creamline’s dominance has been in full display throughout the tournament, highlighted by three commanding shutout victories in their first five matches.

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With the return of Tots Carlos to the rosterlucky horse, the crowd favorites are expected to face minimal resistance.

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