For Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos, the HD Spikers' trophy haul in the 2022 Premier Volleyball Open Conference is proof that the team is on the right track moving forward.
"Sobrang good sign to for us, even yung management namin naniniwala sa amin na maganda yung patutunguhan ng team namin," said Delos Santos.
The HD Spikers painted the PVL podium red with Gel Cayuna (Best Setter), Ces Molina (First Best Outside Spiker), Roselyn Doria (First Best Middle Blocker), and Ria Meneses (Second Best Middle Blocker) being named to the PVL Premier Team after Cignal's rise from the cellar to a bronze finish.
With this, Delos Santos vowed that the team will not stop working and build up from these gains heading into the next conference.
"Hindi talaga namin sobrang inexpect na ganun yung award namin, basta kami gawin lang namin yung part namin. So yun lang, talagang more on aral pa kami, gusto naming matuto pa and 'di kami magiistop and mas pagbubutihin namin," said Delos Santos.
Cignal went on an immaculate 4-0 run in the group phase before entering the playoffs.
The HD Spikers then took out BaliPure in dominant fashion before eventually falling out of title contention following a 2-1 reverse sweep loss at the hands of Petro Gazz. The team, though, did not go home empty after bagging the bronze medal against Choco Mucho via quotient.
Still, it was a far better run compared to the team's last place finish in the previous conference where they only won one game in nine matches.
And for that, Delos Santos is proud of what the team has achieved and is confident that they can improve more for the next conferences.
"Personally, ako as a head coach sobrang nakakaproud kasi alam mong nag bunga talaga even kahit short time lang yung nalaan namin sa training namin before mag tournament, nakuha namin yung mga ganung awards na which is hindi naman siya ganun kadali."
