ANTIPOLO CITY — Cignal only has 13 active players out of a PVL team’s 20-woman maximum squad.
Five mainstays from its 2024 season roster in Chai Troncoso, Chin Basas, Gen Casugod, AJ Jingco and its erstwhile longest-serving player of 11 years in Jheck Dionela all bade the HD Spikers farewell in the last two months.
READ: Undermanned Cignal makes short work of Farm Fresh
A trio of former Cignal stars also found new homes as Rachel Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga and an embattled Alohi Robins-Hardy all moved over to the Strong Group Athletics stable as part of either Farm Fresh or ZUS Coffee.
While such an exodus may seem to be a cause for concern, an intact core of Cignal aces is out to prove that they can make the most of who they have for the next five months or so in the longest PVL conference yet.
They just have to be flexible enough to adapt, adjust and overcome.
“Kailangan namin ng players, but kami kasi, kailangan mas maging flexible kami. Kung ano 'yung meron lang, 'yun ang ima-maximize namin,” said Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos.
“Talagang paghihirapan namin lahat. Gagawin namin 'yung best namin para mai-angat namin 'yung team na Cignal.”
No hard feelings
Cignal’s debut win over Farm Fresh in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference was unable to feature what would’ve been an on-court reunion with Daquis, Dionela and Robins-Hardy, albeit on opposite ends of the court.
Even if a first matchup wearing new threads wasn’t to be, at least for now, Cignal captain Ces Molina and Vanie Gandler carry no ill feelings and are just proud to see former HD Spikers find new homes and get fresh starts.
“We were looking forward na makalaban sila kaso ‘yun nga, wala pa sila. Marami pa namang chances na makalaban sila na nandu’n na sila sa loob ng court and naglalaro rin sila,” Molina said.
“Basta happy and proud kami na kung nasaan man sila ngayon I know na makakapag-contribute sila.”
Gandler added, “I’m excited [for when the time comes we play them]. It’s always fun and exciting to go against familiar faces. Hopefully, soon we get to go against them na.”
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