The Cignal HD Spikers will advance to the PVL on Tour semifinals. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – Cignal HD Spikers advancing to the semifinals is a welcome development amid their rebuilding phase, coach Shaq delos Santos admitted Thursday.
The past months were eventful for the HD Spikers, as the team saw multiple player departures, including the infamous exit of "RiCes" — Riri Meneses and Ces Molina.
READ: PVL on Tour: Cignal makes semis at Akari's expense
Delos Santos asserted that they're still not in contender status, saying that they're still picking up the pieces of what's left while banking on the trust and commitment for each other.
"'Yung commitment nung team namin ngayon — 'di kami malakas, sa totoo lang. Hindi kami 'yung team na talagang alam mong napaka-contender — nasa rebuilding pa kami ngayon," said Delos Santos after Cignal dumped Akari, 25-20, 25-11, 28-26.
READ: PVL: Riri Meneses, Ces Molina join Farm Fresh
The Cignal mentor said a lot of work still has to be done, but he knows that it'll be a "give and take" relationship from the coaches to players, vice versa.
"Pero 'yung papaano sila mag-commit, and then, 'guro, 'yung adjustment din bilang coach dun sa team, and ano 'yung best na mabibigay ko sa kanila. Not only dun sa kung ano'ng pwede nilang ibigay. 'Guro 'yung give and take din namin sa isa't isa, and actually, marami pa rin kaming hinahanap, marami pa kaming gusto," said Delos Santos.
But for now, in the words of Delos Santos, they are "so happy" with this breakthrough. The HD Spikers missed out the playoffs in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, but here they are, advancing to the PVL on Tour semis.
"But, we're so happy kung nasaan man kami ngayon dahil nakikita namin kung sa'n pa kami papunta at ano pa 'yung pwedeng marating namin. And looking forward pa rin sa mga gagawin namin, sa tatrabahuhin namin, and invest talaga kami sa lahat ng kailangan pa naming i-work out," he said.