Ria Meneses will start the new year with a new team in Cignal when the Premier Volleyball League opens its second professional season in February.
But what made the 2021 PVL Open Conference Best Middle Blocker pick the HD Spikers among the multiple teams trying to acquire her services after her contract with Petro Gazz expired?
The challenge of rebuilding the struggling Cignal, which finished at rock bottom last season with a disappointing 1-8 win-loss card last August in the Ilocos Norte bubble.
“Noong nakausap ko sila (Cignal management), nakita ko yung plan nila for this year sa team. So nagustuhan ko rin yung plans nila, kaya ko sila napili,” said the 26-year-old product of University of Santo Tomas on The Game.
“Isang plan na sinabi ng management na gusto talaga nila makabalik sila sa Finals. Kasi alam naman natin na nakapag-Finals na sila last time nung nasa kabilang league pa.”
And with the plethora of additions for the HD Spikers this offseason, Meneses feels that the last-placed team last conference will be back as a contender in the coming conference.
Aside from Meneses, Cignal also inked her teammates Ces Molina and Jerrili Malabanan. They follow Marist Layug, Glaudine Troncoso, Gel Cayuna, Graze Bombita, Angeli Araneta, and Bia General.
Only leftovers for the team mentored by Shaq Delos Santos were Rachel Anne Daquis, Jheck Dionela, Roselyn Doria, Ayel Estrañero, and Klarisa Abriam.
“Kung titignan yung lineup namin ngayon, complete package na rin. So talagang tatrabahuhin lang,” said the national team pool member.
Despite her credentials as one of the best blockers in the country, Meneses still knows that the road to redemption is high and far.
With it, she will double her efforts to help the HD Spikers out of the bottom.
“Dedication ko sa work ko ‘yun ‘yung hindi mawawala at mas madadagdagan pa.”
