Echoing her now iconic Cignal battlecry, Rachel Anne Daquis' move to another team is still a sign of “Happiness,” especially in terms of finding joy in a new journey.
Will “Happiness” end for the Cignal HD Spikers?
Time will tell, but the HD Spikers are off to a true new era with the official departure of the team’s longtime face in Rachel Anne Daquis, with the “Queen” making her PVL return not with Cignal but for the upstart Farm Fresh Foxies.
[Related: Rachel Anne Daquis makes PVL return with Farm Fresh Foxies]
Since 2017, the former Queen Tamaraw has personified “Happiness” for the HD Spikers, serving as the franchise leader on and off the court.
However, Daquis recently concluded her stint with Cignal and has shifted to Farm Fresh. While RAD hasn’t played for the HD Spikers since the middle of the 2023 PVL season, her transfer to the Foxies meant the official breakup of her relationship with Team Awesome.
[Related: Rachel Anne Daquis, Jheck Dionela show off energy in first look wearing Farm Fresh threads]
Still, not all breakups are the same. Daquis and the HD Spikers harbor no hard feelings.
Echoing RAD’s now iconic Cignal battlecry, her move to another team is a sign of “Happiness,” especially in terms of finding joy in a new journey.
In a talk with One Sports, HD Spikers head coach Shaq Delos Santos opened up about RAD’s departure.
“Syempre, sad. Kasi for how many years, magkasama kami. On the other side naman, sobrang happy ako sa kanya kasi may bagong team na siya and I'm sure happing-happy rin siya doon sa naging decision niya,” he said.
“Actually, nagkausap talaga kami. Nag-kwento siya sa akin and nagpaalam na rin regarding sa mga plans niya. Kumbaga parang sa kanya, sobrang hirap nung decision niya before.”
Daquis will no longer sport the Cignal jersey, but her influence in the team will endure.
“Happiness” was not just a call to action, it was an identity to not only Daquis but for all of the HD Spikers. It will stay, even if it will be no longer spoken.
[Related: Jovelyn Gonzaga shares love for Rachel Anne Daquis as #GonzAquis bond endures | Off the Record]
“Yes, definitely. Kumbag sobrang na-adapt namin and na-adapt rin ng mga teammate niya [RAD’s attitude]. Lagi naming panghahawakan din yung [mentality] kung paano niya na-handle yung buong team before,” coach Shaq said.
“Kita naman namin sa ibang players na nandito ngayon sa Cignal kung papaano i-handle yung mga sarili nila and mag-lead din sa teammates. For us, malaking factor yun -- nakatulong talaga.”
In one of the more surprising PVL breakups, Rachel Anne Daquis leaving Cignal was a true shocker.
But not all breakups are the same, as this one has “Happiness” still written all over, for the team and the player.
“Siyempre always proud pa [kami] sa kanya kasi alam naman namin kung paano siya mag-trabaho, kung paano mo siya kasama sa team -- sobrang gaan lang na player and yung pagiging leader niya,” coach Shaq said of Daquis.
“Para sa amin, proud kami sa kanya, and good luck sa magiging next journey niya. I'm sure kayang-kaya niya lahat ng gagawin niya doon and malaki yung magiging impact niya sa bagong team niya.”