ANTIPOLO — Undermanned and all, Cignal still came out swinging.
The 13-strong HD Spikers had just enough in the tank to spoil Farm Fresh’s 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference opener in a 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 sweep on Saturday in Antipolo.
The league’s first out-of-town trip in its longest season yet saw a quick first act unravel through former MVP Ces Molina’s 14 points alongside winger Jov Fernandez’ 11.
Multi-awarded aces Gel Cayuna and Dawn Macandili-Catindig ruled the non-scoring departments with 16 excellent sets and 20 digs in the one-hour, 35 minute contest.
In such a short time, Cignal ran past a Farm Fresh team that did not field any of its new signings in Rachel Daquis, Jheck Dionela and an embattled Alohi Robins-Hardy.
Including the yet-to-debut Jolina dela Cruz, the Foxies only had 11 players available to begin the new season.
Looking ahead, not back
The aforementioned Farm Fresh trio all once donned Cignal colors over the course of their careers.
Their offseason departures led to a handful of key losses for the reigning Invitational Conference runners-up that had to tap free-agents Caroline Santos and libero Camille Belaro to stretch their player count to 13.
With nearly half a year of PVL action to come, Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos was first to acknowledge that the only way forward is to focus on who they have rather than who left them.
“Kailangan namin ng players but kami kasi, kailangan mas maging flexible kami. Kung ano 'yung meron lang, 'yun ang ima-maximize namin,” the HD Spikers shot-caller said.
“Talagang paghihirapan namin lahat. Gagawin namin 'yung best namin para mai-angat namin 'yung team na Cignal.”
Having seen their growth through the years, delos Santos still beams with pride on how his former players have grown as they’ll soon embark on new journeys elsewhere.
“Kahit nasa kabilang team na sila, ibang team na sila, happy ako for them. Ang good thing kasi, before 'to mangyari, nagkaroon na ng adjustment, we know na kung ano'ng mangyayari,” said delos Santos.
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