Rachel Daquis is not the only one set for a homecoming once the Premier Volleyball League rolls around.
Cignal libero Jheck Dionela also started her volleyball career in the Shakey’s V-League.
Her final appearance in the V-League was a historic one. The 4-foot-11 libero out of Perpetual Help was part of the Cagayan Valley team to become the first-ever squad to sweep a conference back in the Season 10 Open Conference.
So when Cignal announced that it would transfer from the PSL to the PVL, Dionela was hyped.
“Parang homecoming siya dahil pinaka-unang semi-pro experience ko doon.
“Nag-champion kami nung last year ko nun sa Cagayan. So sa pagbalik ko ngayon, siyempre, hoping ako na mag-champion din ang Cignal,” she said during Thursday’s episode of the game.
During the seven years she spent in the PSL, Dionela has grown into one of the elite liberos in the country, winning four Best Libero plums there.
Besides her return home, Dionela feels excited to step on the court against Choco Mucho. She will now get to do one thing she had been hoping for — face her childhood idol Illa Santos.
“Very excited ako to face Choco Mucho dahil nandun ‘yung idol ko ever since before pa ko mag-volleyball — si Manilla Santos.
“Super idol ko talaga siya. Isa siya mga dahilan kung bakit ako nag-volleyball. First time ko siya makakalaban sa isang liga dahil nung papasok pa lang ako, pa-graduate na siya. Hindi na ata siya naglaro that time. Sana makalaro ko siya sa PVL,” the 30-year-old Dionela gushed about the 34-year-old Santos.
Only once has Dionela experienced a championship since being part of the fabled Cagayan team of 2013 — a co-championship with Kobe Shinwa during the 2017 Invitational Cup.
In the PVL, she hopes that she can help the HD Spikers reach the pinnacle of volleyball.
“Fresh new start itong pagdating namin sa PVL. I heard ang daming lumipat sa ibang team kaya maganda ‘yung composition ng mga teams. Excited talaga kami.”
