Cignal is a team on a mission.
After falling short of a three-peat last season, they have set their sights on redemption and nothing less than the championship title in the 2023 Spikers' Turf Open Conference. With a perfect 13-0 record and a fourth straight Finals appearance, the HD Spikers are proving to be a formidable force on the court.
However, for team leader Marck Espejo, their perfect record is worthless without the championship trophy. "We'll work on it and I hope we can grab it this time," he said after their semifinals win over the Cotabato Spikers.
And their goal is clear - to become the winningest team in Spikers' Turf history by claiming their fourth championship. The 13-0 clean slate they have earned so far is fueling their motivation, according to head coach Dexter Clamor.
But they are not underestimating their upcoming Finals opponent, AMC-Cotabato. "We know that AMC will fight hard in the Finals because our game against them was very close. Eyes on the prize," said Espejo.
The team has identified their eagerness to win, their will, and their passion for volleyball as the key components that were missing in last year's championship loss. "We have a bigger goal now than last time," said Espejo.
With their semifinals win, they have gained the respect of their opponents, and this serves as their motivation heading into the championship. But Clamor is aware that complacency can still be a threat, as seen when AMC took a set off them in their semifinals match.
To address this, the team is maintaining an aggressive mindset and working hard to ensure they secure the championship. "There should be no complacency in what we do, and we need to work hard to obtain the championship," said Clamor.
As the HD Spikers prepare for their best-of-three Finals matchup with AMC-Cotabato starting on Wednesday, they are determined to leave nothing on the court and bring the championship trophy back to their camp.
