Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos hopes to have a complete lineup by next week as the HD Spikers aim to make a deep run in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference.
The team went through its opening match of the season-ending conference without key figures Rachel Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Gelai Nunag.
According to delos Santos, Daquis is still in the United States after being invited to a coaches’ camp prior to the conference, while Gonzaga and Nunag are still sorting out their commitments with the Philippine Army.
“Si Jov (Gonzaga) meron silang inaayos sa Army kasi siyempre iba yung case nila ni (Gelai) Nunag kasi si Royse (Tubino) I don’t know yung status niya kasi sa status nila I think di pa sila pinaglaro,” said the former national team head coach.
“We don’t know this coming week baka magkaroon kami ng update sa kanya (Rachel Daquis), but right now andon pa siya so di pa namin alam,” he added.
The HD Spikers hardly felt the trio’s absence as they took down sister team PLDT in four sets, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, to open their campaign on a high note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.
Old reliables Ces Molina, Riri Meneses, and Gel Cayuna took care of business while the three were away, also getting ample support from Chin Basas, Vanie Gandler, Jackie Acuna, and Bia General.
Still, delos Santos hopes to get a complete HD Spikers squad as soon as possible.
Cignal’s next game will be against defending champion Creamline on Saturday, 7:00 p.m. in Batangas, followed by their match against Choco Mucho on Thursday, also at 7:00 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“But let’s see sa next game namin, pagpray namin na maging ok sila this coming Saturday.”
