Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos and Ces Molina expressed pride in former teammates Rachel Anne Daquis and Jheck Dionela finding a new PVL opportunity with Farm Fresh.
The Cignal HD Spikers were set to face several familiar faces In their first match of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Saturday.
Going up against the Farm Fresh Foxies, the HD Spikers would have taken on former players Rachel Anne Daquis, Jheck Dionela, and the recently-signed AJ Jingco.
Daquis and Dionela, however, sat out Farm Fresh’s opening match as Cignal blasted the Foxies for a straight-sets victory, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21, at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
[Related: 'Clean' game leaves even Cignal surprised as HD Spikers sweep Farm Fresh in PVL All-Filipino Conference]
Team captain Ces Molina admitted wanting to have faced her former teammates to open their All-Filipino campaign, but for now, that opportunity will have to wait just a bit.
“We’re looking forward na makalaban sila kaso ‘yun nga wala pa sila,” Molina said during the post-game press conference.
“Marami pa namang chance na makalaban sila na nandon sila sa loob ng court and naglalaro din sila. Happy and proud kami na kung nasaan man sila ngayon, I know na makakapag-contribute sila,” she added.
Cignal and Farm Fresh will meet each other once more in the second round of the All-Filipino Conference.
Coach Shaq Delos Santos likewise shared that he’s happy to see his former players find a new home, but emphasized that their focus on the match was solely on their own preparations.
“Happy ako for them na kahit nasa kabilang team na sila,” said Delos Santos. “Ang good thing kasi, before 'to mangyari, nagkaroon na ng adjustment, we know na kung ano'ng mangyayari.”
“For us, 'yung mindset lang namin na kung paano kami magpe-prepare as a team, hindi do'n sa mismong, like, nasa ibang team na sila. So 'yun lang 'yung focus namin--sa team namin,” he added.
For now, the work continues for the HD Spikers as they go for win no. 2 against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.