From sharing a locker room in high school to celebrating championships with National University in college, Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring had always stood on the same side of the net—until now.
On a balmy Tuesday evening at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, the longtime teammates turned rivals as Cignal clashed with Creamline in the 2025 PVL On Tour. It was a first for both: a head-to-head battle in the pros, one filled with nerves, nostalgia, and the kind of competitive fire only years of shared history can ignite.
It was a moment bound to happen. Drafted sixth overall by Cignal, Pangilinan has quickly made her presence felt on the court. Her debut season in the Premier Volleyball League has been nothing short of promising, and her latest performance—helping the HD Spikers to a tight 25-22, 25-18, 28-26 sweep over the Cool Smashers—was a full-circle moment she won't soon forget.
“Going up against Coach She [Meneses] and Sheena [Toring], siyempre nakakakaba rin at first kasi former coach at teammate, especially the rest of Creamline din kasi nakakasama ko sila sa training dati,” said Pangilinan, still buzzing from the victory.
“Nakakakaba, at the same time, exciting na ganito na yung laruan sa pro. Parang sobrang happy ako na nakapag-perform ako nang maayos against them.”
The nerves were understandable. Not only was Pangilinan facing Toring for the first time, but she was also lining up against her former mentor Sherwin Meneses—now Creamline’s head coach—and several Cool Smashers who once served as training partners during her collegiate years.
But Pangilinan didn’t flinch under the spotlight. She tallied three crucial points and played a steady role on defense, helping keep Creamline at bay and pushing Cignal to a spotless 3-0 record in the preseason tilt.
On the other side of the court, Toring—Creamline’s 12th overall pick in the most recent PVL Draft—was all smiles despite the loss. Coming off the bench to deliver four points, the former NU star was more focused on the significance of the moment than the scoreboard.
“Medyo nanibago. At the same time, kung ano ‘yung nilalaro ni Erin [Pangilinan] sa NU, parang ganun ‘yung nilalaro niya sa Cignal. Nandun ‘yung pagiging competitive niya,” she said, clearly proud of her former teammate.
“Pati si ate Pearl [Denura] din, grabe ‘yung depensa niya kanina kaya na-challenge po talaga ako.”
Pearl Denura, another NU alum who went undrafted but found a spot in Cignal’s roster, also made an impact, impressing even her former teammate with her floor defense.
The sight of three former Lady Bulldogs now playing key roles in the PVL—albeit on opposite teams—speaks volumes of the program they came from. But it also highlights the paths they’re carving for themselves in the professional ranks.
For Pangilinan and Toring, this was more than just a match. It was a benchmark of how far they’ve come since their first serve in high school, and a preview of the battles to come.
