Jau Umandal earns the first Player of the Week plum in the Spikers' Turf 2025 Open Conference, with his double-digit performances for the Cignal HD Spikers.
In a team chock-full with talent, Cignal's Jau Umandal makes it a point to never rest on his laurels during the HD Spikers' winning run in the Spikers' Turf.
As Cignal barged through with a quick 2-0 start in the 2025 Open Conference, Umandal shone enough to earn the first nod as Spikers' Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of February 21 to 23.
After setting the tone with 10 points on an 8-of-16 attack clip in the HD Spikers' sweep of newcomer Alpha Insurance last Friday, the former UST standout cranked his game up a notch two days later with 17 more markers on an astounding 16-of-23 spiking efficiency in Cignal's 25-23, 27-25, 25-19 win over Savouge.
Umandal's top-notch offense pushed him past teammate Steven Rotter and the Criss Cross trio of Jaron Requinton, Jude Garcia, and Kim Malabunga for the weekly citation handed out by reporters covering the competition streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.spikersturf.ph.
Umandal though admits that the path to another title still littered with twists and turns.
"Ang mindset ko ngayong season ay mag-focus lang sa bawat laro at gawin ang best ko para makatulong sa team. Malaking bagay na maganda ang naging simula ko, pero alam kong marami pa akong dapat ayusin at pagbutihin," he said.
"Lalo na laban sa malalakas na teams tulad ng Savouge, kailangan kong manatiling composed at sumunod sa game plan namin. Hindi rin ito magiging posible kung hindi dahil sa tiwala ng teammates at coaches ko, kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila.”
Umandal credits his Cignal teammates - many of whom are part of the Alas Pilipinas men's volleyball team - for keeping him grounded no matter how often they cruise to wins as a cohesive unit.
“Maswerte ako na nasa isang team na maraming magagaling na players. Malaking bagay ‘yung magkaroon ng teammates na laging nag-uusap, nagtutulungan, at nagtutulak sa isa’t isa para mas gumaling," he continued.
"Sa totoo lang, nakakagaan ng loob na hindi ko kailangang akuin lahat ng responsibilidad sa laro dahil lahat kami may ambag. Dahil doon, mas na-challenge ako na gawin ang part ko nang maayos at maging consistent para makatulong sa team."
For Umandal, the best is yet to come.
"Hindi pa ito ‘yung best ko, kaya patuloy pa rin akong magtatrabaho para mas mapaganda pa ang laro ko," he concluded.
Cignal’s next assignment for the week will be against VNS on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig and PGJC-Navy on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.