Cignal Mainstays Ready To Face Former Teammates In PVL All-Filipino Campaign

The Cignal HD Spikers will see some familiar faces on the other side of the taraflex when the 2024-2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference begins. 

The Cignal HD Spikers’ new era will officially begin once the 2024-2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference tips off on November 9. 

Cignal lost several of their veterans throughout the offseason, starting with Jovelyn Gonzaga who joined the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles last October 15. Days later, libero Jheck Dionela ended her 11-year run with Cignal to join the Farm Fresh Foxies. 

After sitting out the past three conferences, Rachel Anne Daquis also transferred to the Foxies following a seven-year stay with the HD Spikers. Chai Troncoso, meanwhile, joined Gonzaga and the Thunderbelles in another surprise development.

While the transfers are saddening, Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos remains supportive of his former players as he thanked them for their contributions to the HD Spikers. After all, they ended on good terms as these players informed him of their desire to start anew.

“Siyempre, hindi madali para sa amin. But ang good thing, we’re so happy na mayroon na silang ibang team na malalaruan. And siyempre, ‘yung help nila and then ‘yung being consistent doon sa paglalaro nila,” he said. 

“‘Yun lang ‘yung pinag-pray namin and maging safe din [sila]. And, yeah, sobrang happy. And then, siyempre, sobrang appreciate namin lahat kung ano ‘yung mga pinagsamahan namin through ups and downs.”

Longtime Cignal captain Ces Molina likewise expressed her happiness for her former sisters, acknowledging their desire for continued growth outside the HD Spikers’ camp.

“I’m very, very proud sa mga teammates ko na na sa ibang team na. I know that they found a new home and alam ko na ‘yung personal growth nila ‘yung isa sa pinaka-goal din nila. Alam ko rin na mas makaka-contribute sila kung nasaan na sila ngayon,” she said.

“I’m really excited and gusto ko na makaharap sila kasi dati mong teammate ngayon…Parang makikita mo na sila on the other side of the court. And challenging ‘yun na dati mo silang kasama na nakatulong, ngayon kalaban mo na sila.”

Cignal will open their All-Filipino conference this November 16 against Daquis and the Foxies, while they will face Gonzaga and ZUS on February 13 next year. 

For Molina, these player movements also raise the level of competition in the PVL. 

“So, I think lahat naman excited, especially ‘yung mga fans kasi kalat-kalat na yung players. And, alam ko na itong ganitong kahabang liga, ‘yun ‘yung exciting dun. Na parang iba-ibang players nakakalat. And, lahat naman sila magagaling. And, we’re looking forward sa maganda and mahabang conference na ito,” said the former Petron Blaze Spiker. 

Leaner roster

However, Cignal can’t afford to dwell on those losses, either. A longer-than-usual conference awaits, which requires the team to condition their players for the long grind ahead. 

Player departures also leave Cignal with a leaner roster ahead of the conference. And unlike the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences, teams will no longer have an import to provide a guaranteed spark for the game.

Despite this, delos Santos lauded his players’ flexibility for the time being.

“Ang good thing kasi may time kami para makapag-prepare, makapag-ready. So, nagiging flexible naman ‘yung mga players namin, especially si Ces kaya maglaro ng opposite, and then sa outside. So ‘yun, ganun din sa ibang players. Doon na lang talaga sa training namin, binubuhos ‘yung pwede namin magawa, ‘yung options na pwede namin gawin,” said the former national team coach. 

Still with the HD Spikers are veterans Riri Meneses and Gel Cayuna, while middle blocker Jacqueline Acuña showed tremendous growth last season. Additionally, Alas Pilipinas players Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Vanie Gandler, are also expected to have a full season after a late comeback in the Invitational Conference.

Molina added that it will be up to the players to sharpen their skills while the coaching staff figures out the final roles and rotations.

“Sa amin talaga [players], full of training lang and skills. Self–preparation talaga kami. Si coach na ‘yung bahala talaga pagdating doon sa mga rotation. Kung ano man yung binibigay niya sa amin na responsibility at mga roles kailangan lang namin ‘yung i-perform and gampanan,” she stressed.

Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.