When Ces Molina and Riri Meneses left Cignal during the holiday break of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, questions arose about the HD Spikers’ future.
On Tuesday, Cignal provided a clear answer: they are still aiming for the podium — and beyond.
Despite losing two key starters, the HD Spikers’ remaining 12 players weathered the storm, posting a 4-2 record after the break to secure an 8-3 slate and the third seed in the preliminaries.
While some may have been surprised by Cignal’s resilience, the team itself never doubted its capabilities.
“I didn’t really get surprised with the performance of the team kasi I trust everyone in the team. Even before everything happened, they’ve been stepping up naman always,” said Vanie Gandler, one of Cignal’s leaders.
“They’ve been contributing every practice, every game, so I think our trust in them is always there and it’s still there, and we knew kayang-kaya pa.”
New catalysts emerged, with Ishie Lalongisip and Judith Abil stepping up in the wing spiker positions, while Rose Doria-Aquino and Jackie Acuña also elevated their play.
Cignal’s only two losses after the break came in tightly-contested matches against Creamline (five sets) and PLDT (four sets).
(C) PVL Images
“Hindi totally na-surprise. Siguro naging happy ako doon sa result kung papaano namin siya dine-design doon sa mga ginagawa namin and papaano namin siya pinaguusapan lahat,” said head coach Shaq Delos Santos.
“Siguro part din na-surprise kami. Ako, personally, na-surprise ako — surprise in a way na natutuwa ako kasi lumalabas din talaga yung pinaghihirapan namin. Ayun.”
Even with just 12 players, both Gandler and Delos Santos saw it as an opportunity rather than a disadvantage, especially given their results — including their latest straight-sets victory over Akari (25-17, 25-15, 25-21) on Tuesday.
Though the pressure is higher with a smaller roster, Gandler lauded her teammates for continuously stepping up to the challenge.
“Physically, it’s kinda hard on our team because we’re only 12, and it’s kinda pressuring, too, that we can’t have an off game. But that’s why I say it’s really teamwork — when one person is off, everyone else helps that person,” said Gandler.
“Siguro yung nakikita kong advantage, yung commitment ng players. Sobrang… Kumbaga, kahit 12 lang kami, nama-maximize namin yung skills ng bawat isa,” shared Delos Santos.
“Mindset siguro talaga nung team yung ano kasi, sabi ko nga, kailangan mas ma-maximize natin yung talent and skills ng bawat isa kasi kokonti na nga lang din tayo.”
