Left without a team entering the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season, Judith Abil decided to try her luck and threw her name in the PVL Combine – an initiative by the league to help free agents find new homes.
Abil had played for BaliPure in 2021 before transferring to Quezon City in the MPVA. She then played for Nxled in last year’s season-ending Second All-Filipino Conference, but was eventually let go of the team after the tournament.
There, the former University of the East standout caught the eye of the HD Spikers’ coaching staff during the combine.
Eventually, head coach Shaq delos Santos gave Abil another shot at continuing her professional volleyball career.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Nung free agent combine, nag-try lang ako magpasa sa email then pumunta ako ng day 1. And yun po, cinontact ako ni coach na mag-tryout sa team Cignal. Then yun po, nagtuloy-tuloy na,” she said.
Delos Santos said that he was left impressed after seeing Abil’s performance in the team’s practices, which prompted him to sign the 26-year-old wing spiker.
“Si Judith kasi wala pa ako nung una siyang dumating. Kung nasan ‘man ako. Sabi nga [nung] assistant ko, na si Judith daw ganito ganiyan. So sabi ko, ‘Sige, papuntahin mo’ and then nung nagkita kami, ‘Balik ka next week, observe kita ng three days,” said delos Santos.
“While ongoing ‘yung practice namin, ganda nung performance pero mas nakikita ko ‘yung grabe ‘yung floor defense niya, grabe yung receive and then serve, service niya.”
Impressed by Abil’s exceptional floor defense and recognizing the absence of star libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig due to her commitment to Alas Pilipinas, head coach Shaq delos Santos decided to convert the spiker from Iligan City into a defensive specialist.
“Every tuneup namin, gagamitin ko siya sa service hanggang sa… Parang sabi ko, malaki ‘yung potential niya sa libero kasi ‘yun din ‘yung kailangan namin ma-improve,” said the former national team head coach.
(C) PVL Images
On Thursday night, Abil made sure to repay the trust given to her by delos Santos by putting up an impressive performance.
And with her on the floor, Cignal stunned Choco Mucho in straight sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-16, for a winning start in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.
She anchored the HD Spikers’ defense, putting up 15 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions in the huge win.
“Unang una, thank you sa tiwala. Sa mga coaches, sa mga teammates na nagtiwala sa akin, kasi yung transition hindi madali. Pero sa tulong ng coaches and teammates madali yung trabaho,” said Abil.
Delos Santos had nothing but good words for Abil, who showed unwavering determination and great character since joining Cignal.
“Grabe ‘yung puhunan niya eh, hindi lang skills eh. ‘Yung jolly siya, ‘yung pagiging aggressive niya, talagang all out siya pag training, ‘di siya ‘yung tipong mahihiya kasi bago. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, isa ‘yun sa hinahanap din namin sa player kasi kailangan may konting kulit na alam namin na kapag tumrabaho, grabe ‘yung galaw,” said the veteran tactician.
“So ayun, maraming aspect so bukod sa kagandahan niya, ibang level ‘yung performance niya. Nakita naman natin. Pero syempre, ‘di kami magbe-base sa isang game lang, first game pa lang namin ‘to at marami pang pwedeng mangyari. For sure, ‘yung ibang teams na makakalaban namin, mas magpe-prepare rin. Same rin, ganun din ‘yung gagawin namin.”
(C) PVL Images
For her part, Abil – who bounced around from team to team in the past – knows that nothing is permanent in this league.
Now, she vows to make the most out of her second chance with the HD Spikers.
“Yun po kailangan i-embrace yung position na binigay ng coaches sa akin at magtiwala sa sarili wag mag-doubt talaga.”
