Cignal was an unstoppable force in the Spikers’ Turf last year, dominating both the 2024 Open and Invitational Conferences.
Despite facing heavy challenges throughout the season, the HD Spikers often found themselves on top. However, that wasn’t the case during their week-long training camp in Japan earlier this February.
Competing against top teams from Japan’s SV.League and V.League, as well as some of the country’s best universities, Cignal suffered tough losses — an experience that head coach Dexter Clamor saw as beneficial.
“Ito talaga yung pinaka the best training camp for us kasi una, nakapag-tune up kami with two teams ng Division 1, isang Division 2, tsaka best of universities in Nagoya,” Clamor shared during the league’s media day for the 2025 Open Conference, set to begin on Friday, Feb. 21.
“Kumbaga, kung dito sa Pilipinas, lagi kaming nananalo, laging straight sets, doon na-experience namin ‘yung matalo, ‘yung tambak kami. It was a good experience dahil marami kaming nabaon at dadalhin namin sa Spikers’ Turf.”
Cignal went up against SV.League’s Toray Arrows and Nagoya Wolfdogs, as well as V.League’s Kubota Spears — featuring former HD Spiker Marck Espejo — alongside Meijo University and Aichi Gakuin University.
For the upcoming season, the HD Spikers will rely on the same core that led them to both titles last year, highlighting the team’s continuity and chemistry.
Still leading Cignal are team captain Wendel Miguel and game captain JP Bugaoan, supported by heavy hitters Jau Umandal, Louie Ramirez, JM Ronquillo, and Steven Rotter, among others.
The trio of top-notch setters — Owa Retamar, EJ Casaña, and Cian Silang — will continue to orchestrate plays for the eight-time Spikers’ Turf champions.
As the winningest team in the country’s premier men’s volleyball league, Miguel sees their success as both an honor and a challenge, knowing that every team is eager to dethrone them.
“Every time na matatapos yung season, nagba-back to zero talaga yung motivation namin, yung ginagawa namin kasi alam naman namin na every time na mag-champion kami, sa amin nakatingin lahat ng teams, na nilu-look forward nila na matalo kami,” Miguel said.
“Siyempre, yung extra motivation na ginagawa namin is yun — nakatingin sa amin lahat ng teams, gusto nilang matalo kami. Siyempre, dagdag motivation namin doon is kailangan namin mag-extra hard work pa sa training.”
