The Cignal HD Spikers are expected to field another veteran floor defender after snapping up Buding Duremdes early into the new PVL season.
Exactly one day before their win over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday, the Cignal HD Spikers bolstered their depth at the libero position by adding veteran floor patroller Buding Duremdes early into the new PVL season.
And while she had a quiet debut on Thursday, Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos couldn’t be any happier with their newest signing. Duremdes is fresh off a four-year stay with Chery Tiggo, which included a PVL title in 2021 during the league’s first professional season.
Given this, she is expected to bring her championship experience to the HD Spikers in their bid to get over the hump in the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference.
“Actually, dream come true talaga! Well, to be honest kasi, matagal lang ‘yung naging proseso nito bago siya mangyari, but siguro nga may right time para sa lahat ng bagay. So good thing natuloy na rin and we’re so happy,” head coach Shaq Delos Santos said after Cignal’s four-set win over the Crossovers.
“And I’m sure mas marami pa siyang pwede gawin. I think ‘yung adjustment lang niya sa first game, and then, yeah, siguro more on pupukpukin rin sa training para makabalik siya sa gusto niya gawin,” added Delos Santos, who previously coached Duremdes in the UAAP with FEU Lady Tamaraws, and the PSL with the Petron Blaze Spikers.
Duremdes is expected to split libero duties with Dawn Macandili-Catindig in Cignal, which could create a deep rotation once she adjusts to a new system. Given this, Delos Santos couldn’t wait to see their partnership flourish as the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference goes on.
The pair, he said, also brings a “balanced” dynamic given their respective personalities.
“Hindi naman sa, para maging comfortable ako, pero alam mong itong dalawang libero, pag inilagay mo sa loob ng court and sa training, magdedeliver…And hindi siya parang hindi siya sobrang seryoso, balance eh,” he explained.
“Syempre, [si Buding] komedyante, [si Dawn] hindi siya serious type eh, pero talagang gusto niya lang magfocus sa lahat nang ginagawa niya. But at the same time mayroon kaming joker din na syempre icebreaker na talagang anytime, mapapangiti ka kahit ayaw mo. But kidding aside, sobrang okay na mayroon kami ngayong dalawang libero na Buding and Dawn,” added the champion mentor.
For her part, Macandili-Catindig knows that she can learn a lot from Duremdes as a fellow libero.
“Ako naman, pagka sa training very observant din ako. Kasi ang dami ko rin napipick up talaga na skills and IQ sa ibang players. Same thing kay Buding, nakakalaban ko si Buding before and talagang ang dami rin niyang galaw na parang very relaxed lang and gusto ko rin matutunan syempre,” said the national team mainstay.
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.