CANDON CITY — On a night that should have marked the start of a celebration of the sport’s cream of the crop, Cignal was hit with the kind of news a day prior that no team ever prepares for.
By the end of this trip north, the Super Spikers are no more.
Fresh off a silver medal finish in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference and with five players set to shine bright in the league’s first All-Star Weekend, the team arrived in Candon carrying far heavier emotions than expected.
READ: Cignal Super Spikers take leave of absence from PVL
Captain Dawn Catindig, MVP Vanie Gandler, former MVP Erika Santos, five-time best setter Gel Cayuna, and onetime best middle blocker Jackie Acuna faced the media in somber fashion, some on the verge of tears.
Even for Catindig, who had gone through a disbandment before, the blow did not get any easier.
“We never expected that kind of news. Kahit na may rumors, very hopeful pa rin kami. But at the end of the day, it was a business decision and we respect that,” said the veteran libero who was also there are the close of now-defunct F2 Logistics.
“Alam naman namin na pinaglaban kami ng Cignal and we have to go our own ways.”
For Gandler and Santos, the timing made it even tougher, as both were coming off peak performances, only to be met with an abrupt stop.
“Thankful ako kasi naipakita ko ‘yung true self ko sa kanila. Hindi ako nahirapang mag-adjust and ‘yung transition from my past team tapos sila agad ‘yung nakasama ko,” Santos said.
“Sobrang ok sa feeling na mag-work ka and at the same time, may family ka and sisters. Sobrang thankful ako sa Cignal.”
Gandler echoed the same sentiment, underscoring the familial culture the Super Spikers have built through time.
“The best thing for me is them, the teammates that I met, and I’ve said this in so many interviews, they helped me become a better version of myself because everyone really had one goal,” she said.
“We wanted to grow and we knew that to grow, we need to be collaborative. It’s not really a competition and we have to work together.”
What’s next?
Now, the focus shifts to what comes next. And for Catindig, it starts with patience and healing.
“For me naman na medyo matagal na sa pros, very important sa’kin ‘yung team culture sa susunod kong pupuntahan. I’m taking my time in my decision kasi ang hirap pa rin maka-move on kasi very fresh pa rin,” she said.
Santos, on the same boat, is still processing the weight of it all, as Gandler also begins to look ahead.
“Hindi pa talaga nagsi-sink in. Nasa stage pa ako na nagpa-process, so siguro, kailangan ko munang mag-reflect sa mga napagdaan at hahanap ng bagong team. Siyempre, du’n ako sa magtititwala sa’kin,” Santos said.
“I need to find a team na, at this stage of my career, is going to help me get even further. That’s what I’m hoping for,” Gandler added.
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