For all the glory of their nine championships in the Spikers’ Turf and Premier Volleyball League since 2015, Cignal’s latest Open Conference conquest stands apart – not for its dominance, but for the grit and resilience it demanded.
“This conference, we faced so many challenges. So many injuries. So many internal problems,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor in Filipino, amid the post-championship jubilation after the HD Spikers pulled off a stunning straight-sets triumph – 25-22, 25-16, 28-26 – over the powerhouse Criss Cross King Crunchers at the Philsports Arena last Sunday.
The road to the crown was anything but smooth. Star spiker Louie Ramirez missed part of the tournament due to a nagging shoulder injury. Just as he was regaining form, another offensive weapon, Jau Umandal, suffered a hyperextended knee, casting further doubt on Cignal's title defense.
For a team that had hoisted the trophy in the last two conferences, vulnerability was a foreign feeling – but it quickly became their reality.
Three consecutive losses to the King Crunchers in the elimination and semifinal rounds seemed to signal a power shift and changing of the guard. Entering the best-of-three Finals, Cignal was battle-worn, stripped of momentum and carrying the weight of uncertainty.
But champions are forged in fire – and Cignal proved once more that when the stakes are highest, its will and determination are unbreakable, unmatched.
Cignal didn’t just show up in the Finals – they flipped the script. In Game 1, the HD Spikers handed the King Crunchers their first loss of the season, snapping a 13-match unbeaten streak and rekindling the swagger that has long defined their dominance.
Though Criss Cross clawed back to win Game 2 and force a decider, the HD Spikers entered Game 3 with unshakable resolve. They controlled the tempo from the start, seizing the first two sets with authority. Even when they trailed 20-23 in the third, they mounted a determined comeback, sweeping the match and the series – and in the process, cementing their three-peat.
Cignal’s strength wasn’t just in its stars – though players like Owa Retamar, Steven Rotter, JP Bugaoan, Wendel Miguel, Ramirez and Umandal were instrumental. The reserves answered the call when needed, with Vince Abrot, Nas Gwaza, Martin Bugaoan, Cian Silang and Sandy Montero all making key contributions throughout the conference.
“For me, this championship was truly a collective effort from everyone,” stressed Clamor. “What’s great is that we’re able to resolve our problems immediately. That’s what really sets this team apart.”
More than just technical preparation, Clamor credits their success to complete buy-in from the players – physically, mentally and emotionally.
“We really prepared for this – physically, mentally, everything. And what I’m really grateful for is that the players fully cooperated and committed,” he said.
Even with nine championships in the bag, Cignal’s thirst for glory shows no signs of slowing.
“We never get tired of winning championships,” said Clamor. “That’s the culture we have. We know how painful it is to lose, and that’s what drives us. Of course, for the next conference – we’re going for it again.”
For Cignal, winning isn’t just about titles – it’s about legacy. A legacy of brotherhood, hard work, sacrifice and a shared mission to remain at the summit of Philippine men’s volleyball.
Their ninth championship is not the end of the journey – but another chapter in a continuing saga of excellence, perseverance and unrelenting ambition.
