By: Bjorn Del B. Deade
Jau Umandal performed as expected in Cignal’s 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference opener, leading the HD Spikers to a 25-17, 25-16, 27-25 win against the PGJC-Navy Sealions.
The 2023 Open MVP unloaded a team-high 17 points on 16 attacks and a block in the one-hour, 37-minute battle.
This kind of display, for head coach Dexter Clamor, is a sign of a “different Jau Umandal” at Cignal’s helm that will keep the team surging in its title-retention bid this season despite several key departures in the offseason.
And other teams should brace themselves.
“He’s the face of Cignal now,” Clamor said. “What’s good about him, he has a good attitude too. Sobrang napakahardworker ni Jau. Wala akong masabi. He follows the system.
“It’s a different Jau Umandal. Mas matured, mas consistent, mas gusto magdeliver, at mas gusto pa rin mag-champion,” he added.
Now that the reins have been handed over to him, Umandal said he aims to become a leader and make his teammates better.
Former HD Spikers core members Marck Espejo, Ysay Marasigan, and Manuel Sumanguid, as well as Chu Njigha and Geuel Asia, have parted ways with the team and transferred to the newly-formed Rebisco-backed team Criss Cross.
“Ako, gagawin ko lang yung best ko as an outside hitter. Ipapakita ko sa kanila (teammates) na ginagawa ko yung best ko para sila gawin din nila ang best nila,” he said.
Cignal was not to be left behind in additions though as it retooled with the signing of Espejo’s on-court rival Bryan Bagunas alongside Ronniel Rosales, Giles Torres, Madz Gampong, Nas Gwaza, Cian Silang, and Vince Lorenzo.
Despite some concerns, Umandal said that chemistry would not be an issue as the newly added players have a sense of maturity that would make Cignal a well-coordinated machine as the competition goes on.
“Hindi naman bago yung mga yon, hindi na mga bata. Maturity na lang din ang nagdadala sa amin para makasama sila,” said the national team mainstay.
“Hindi naman sila kailangan pang amuhin bago makisama sa sistema namin. Sila mismo yung nag-aadapt ng sistema na meron sa Cignal.”
But Clamor said that the team would not settle for the chemistry it has now as this is key to defending the HD Spikers’ crown this season in a more level playing field of nine squads.
“Sobrang importante. Very important yung chemistry ng team, most especially sa mga new players to adapt the system. We’re still working on it, pino-polish pa namin,” said the fifth-year coach.
“Ang maganda dito maganda yung ugali ng lahat ng players even the new players, even yung mga players na natira dito sa Cignal. So maganda yung ugali, mas madali magturo, mas madali magtrabaho.”
