BRONZE belongs to Cignal after a 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 comeback over sister team PLDT in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference battle for third on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
The HD Spikers carved their place in PVL history with its fifth bronze medal — the most by any team in the league’s seven-year run.
Their latest medal conquest saw them finish second in the double-round pool play with a 7-1 record before completing a five-set escape over Capital1 in the quarterfinals, before yielding a 2-0 set lead in a five-set semifinals heartbreak to Creamline.
Cignal also copped back-to-back podiums in a single conference for the first time following its bridesmaid finish in the 2022 edition of import-laden play to Petro Gazz.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride
The distinction of having the most podium finishes (6) without a championship has gone Cignal’s way.
But the seething wounds of holding a 2-0 set lead, four match points, and falling ever-so short of a finals berth won’t go away anytime soon.
This time, however, Cignal’s longtime mainstays in head coach Shaq delos Santos and captain Ces Molina are ready to pick up the pieces and rise again.
And as early as the forthcoming Invitational Conference, the title chase is on again with little to no rest since capturing the bronze.
“Sabihin nating laging may kulang kasi laging gusto pa rin namin ng improvement at laging meron pa kaming kailangan. So 'di naman kami napapagod na magtrabaho, mag-training, para makapunta sa kung ano man 'yung goal namin,” said Molina.
“Like last time nga, 'yung last game namin, we're one point away sa championship (match), pero 'di pa rin binigay sa'min. Marami pa rin kaming lapses and mga adjustments na dapat gawin. Hindi lang kami titigil until makarating kami doon.”
Make no mistake about it, delos Santos is happy to claim yet another bronze finish, but the goal - as always - is to get that breakthrough.
Now it's all about figuring out what the missing piece is as they pivot towards the PVL Invitationals,
“Masaya kami na nakuha namin ‘yung bronze but I’m sure lahat ng teams gusto mapunta sa championship or makakuha ng gold. Hindi kami mag-sstop na kunin ‘yung goal na ‘yun and hopefully dumating na ‘yung time na para sa’min naman," delos Santos said.
“The reason why hindi kami nakakarating sa championship, may kulang. Try naming aralin, ‘yung team namin, pagaaralan namin kung ano ‘yung kulang at kailangan namin. Tutuloy tuloy lang namin kung ano yung laging goal namin.”
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