Despite missing the finals, Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos is confident that the HD Spikers are on the right track following their medal haul in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
A total of four Cignal players were named to the PVL Premier Team last April 28.
Ces Molina bagged the First Best Outside Hitter, Gel Cayuna nabbed the Best Setter award, while Rose Doria and Ria Meneses were named the Best Middle Blockers on the night that the team bagged the bronze medal following a Game Two win over Choco Mucho.
“Hindi talaga namin sobrang inexpect na ganun yung award namin, basta kami gawin lang namin yung part namin,” said Delos Santos.
“Sobrang good sign to for us, even yung management namin naniniwala sa amin na maganda yung patutunguhan ng team namin. So yun lang, talagang more on aral pa kami, gusto naming matuto pa and ‘di kami magiistop and mas pagbubutihin namin,” he added.
Coming off a disastrous 2021 campaign, Cignal, armed with its new recruits, took the 2022 Open Conference by storm and swept the entire Group A for a perfect 4-0 record heading into the playoffs.
The HD Spikers dispatched BaliPure in the quarterfinals before eventually facing off with Petro Gazz in the semifinals.
Cignal drew first blood in the series, extending its winning streak to six games while also closing in on its first PVL finals appearance — just less than a year from its disappointing debut campaign.
Unfortunately, the team fell through, losing the next two games to bow out of the semifinals.
The losing streak stretched to three games with Cignal losing Game One of the battle for bronze against Choco Mucho. The HD Spikers, though, came back in Game Two to clinch a podium finish via quotient.
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, the decorated mentor remained proud of what his team accomplished despite their short preparation.
And now, with a full conference now under their belt, the former national team head coach bared that the team will not stop until they reach their goal of finally winning a PVL championship.
“Personally, ako as a head coach sobrang nakakaproud kasi alam mong nag bunga talaga even kahit short time lang yung nalaan namin sa training namin before mag tournament, nakuha namin yung mga ganung awards na which is hindi naman siya ganun kadali.”
