Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Angela Gayud debut sparks ClearSkiiin
The Angela Gayud debut was everything ClearSkiiin could have hoped for. The bench spark scored 13 points as the UV Smashers held off a stubborn AEP-Cabstars side, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the 2026 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The four-set win pushed ClearSkiiin to 2-0 in the tournament organized by Sports Vision, after the team opened its campaign with a four-set victory over 3B. AEP-Cabstars dropped to 0-2 and shares the bottom spot with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
ClearSkiiin took the opener comfortably at 25-18 before surrendering the second, 19-25. Gayud stepped up from there, helping the Smashers survive two tight frames at 25-23 and 25-23 across two hours of play.
Her 13 points came on 11 attacks and two kill blocks, and they landed exactly when her team needed them.
Cabstars push ClearSkiiin to the brink in the fourth
AEP-Cabstars looked ready to force a deciding fifth set. A 3-0 run capped by Leo Aringo's crafty drop shot tied the fourth frame at 20-all, and suddenly the Smashers were the ones under pressure.
Gayud responded with a powerful tip over three defenders. JM Ronquillo then shut down Aringo with a timely block, and the back-to-back plays restored a 22-20 ClearSkiiin lead.
The two teams traded points down the stretch, but the Cabstars could not withstand the late surge. Gayud and Jester Bornel delivered the finishing blows to seal the back-to-back wins.
Ronquillo and Mateo carry the load for ClearSkiiin
Ronquillo led ClearSkiiin with 16 points on 13 attacks and three kill blocks. Team captain Louis Gamban and Bornel chipped in 11 points apiece.
Klint Mateo kept the offense running with 27 excellent sets to go with four points. Renzel Antonio turned in an all-around line of six points, 24 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs.
The Smashers finished with the edge in attacks, 55-45, and blocks, 13-7, while committing 34 errors. Worth noting: the report refers to ClearSkiiin and the UV Smashers interchangeably.
For a team that already gets scoring from Ronquillo, Gamban and Bornel, Gayud's production off the bench changes the math. It gives coach Joe Bangit a fourth option in tight frames.
Joe Bangit praises Cabstars and takes the blame
"Yeah, credit to AEP-Cabstars. If you watched the match, they really brought their game. We did our scouting, they had some changes in the lineup and so forth, so it cost us a little bit," said UV Smashers head coach Joe Bangit.
Bangit said the match exposed things the team still needs to work on and put that on himself. He added that having Gayud next to him on the bench shows how deep the roster is.
What to watch next in Spikers' Turf
ClearSkiiin goes for a third straight win against VNS-Laticrete on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the same venue. AEP-Cabstars, still searching for a first victory, faces AFP on Sunday at 11 a.m., also at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Aringo paced the Cabstars with 17 points and 16 excellent receptions. Dave Lardizabal added 15 points and eight excellent digs.
This report is based on the original coverage by tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
