With the Cignal HD Spikers among the five teams competing in the PVL Invitational Conference, team captain Ces Molina continues to push towards a title for the franchise.
Bagging yet another bronze medal is still an awesome consolation for the Cignal HD Spikers.
But in the eyes of team captain Ces Molina, the HD Spikers remain relentless in search for the elusive first PVL title.
“Hindi kami titigil hanggang makarating kami doon,” Molina told reporters after scoring 20 points in the Cignal’s four-set conquest over the PLDT High Speed Hitters to secure another podium finish this time in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Cignal salvages bronze in Reinforced Conference, thwarts PLDT in four sets]
Since entering the league in 2021, Cignal finished third in a tournament for the fifth time, including three in the last four conferences.
It was still a strong campaign for the HD Spikers, who are just one point away from entering the championship round in their knockout semifinals against the eventual champion Creamline Cool Smashers.
Cignal was on the verge of eliminating their rival, leading 24-21 and up two sets to one before the Cool Smashers rode a clutch 6-1 run to force a fifth and deciding set.
The Cool Smashers eventually completed the dramatic reverse sweep and went on to claim their ninth title overall at expense of the no. 1 seed Akari Chargers.
[ALSO READ: Creamline schools Akari to win 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference championship]
For Molina, Cignal must learn to develop their mental fortitude and ability to close out their opponents after strong starts.
“Last time nga, ‘yung last game nga, [we’re] one point away from the championship game pero hindi pa rin binigay sa’min so marami pa rin kaming lapses and mga adjustments na pwedeng gawin," Molina said.
“Isa ‘yun sa nakikita namin na kailangan i-adjust na ‘yung lapses na ‘yun… na one point na lang hindi pa namin matapos. So I think, iyon ‘yung iwo-work out namin na every crucial point, kailangan finish strong talaga.
“Kung gaano kami nagsimula ng malakas, ganoon din kami tatapos na malakas," Molina added.
While grateful for another podium finish, head coach Shaq Delos Santos sees Cignal’s time will finally come as long as they put in the work needed to succeed.
“Masaya kami nakukuha namin yung bronze but I’m sure lahat ng teams gusto lahat makapunta sa championship or makakuha ng gold. So isa ‘yun sa mga pinaka goal namin,” Delos Santos expressed.
“Ang lagi naming mindset, hindi kami mag-stop na kunin ‘yung gold na ‘yun. Hopefully, dumating na yung time na para sa amin.”
There’s no days off for HD Spikers as they will start their campaign in the Invitational Conference tomorrow, September 6 against the Farm Fresh Foxies at 4:00 p.m. in Sta. Rosa City Sports Complex.