JOSHUA Retamar has found a new home in the pros with seven-time Spikers Turf champions Cignal HD Spikers.
The multi-awarded playmaker just wrapped up five years with National University as a three-time champion, as well as back-to-back best setter and Finals MVP.
Because of his desire to continue his own winning ways, Retamar said it was an easy decision to suit up for Cignal, which boasts of three more championships than any other team since the league's inception in 2015.
“Cignal ang pinili ko kasi feeling ko dito ako mag-grow sa next stage ng volleyball career ko. Alam naman natin one of the longest and winningest teams ang Cignal when it comes to the men’s division kaya gusto ko lang makatulong mapagpatuloy yun winning ways nila,” said Retamar.
The HD Spikers added Bryan Bagunas, another former NU star, earlier in the year and then went on to win the recently concluded 2024 Open Conference. Now, head coach Dexter Clamor is eager to see the ex-Bulldogs join forces once more - only this time, in red and white.
“It’s both an honor and a privilege to have a setter of Owa’s caliber. It’s not an easy feat to win three UAAP titles, much less the Finals MVP award as a setter. We’re looking forward to having him on the same side of the court for many years as he sets up our spikers which will hopefully lead to wins and more championships,” Clamor said.
Retamar and Bagunas stood at the forefront of NU’s Season 81 title romp before the former suited up again for the Bulldogs following the pandemic — one which saw a 16-game tournament sweep of Season 85 and then victorious yet hard-earned title defense in the just-ended Season 86.
Experinced Retamar
Hailing from San Pedro, Laguna, the 22-year-old ace already has Spikers’ Turf and national team experience under his belt as the tournament’s best setter in the 2019 Open Conference for Sta. Elena and the lead playmaker in the Philippines’ historic silver-medal run on home soil in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
On top of his forthcoming Cignal duties, Retamar will join Alas Pilipinas' extended training pool for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship to be hosted by the Philippines in September next year.
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