FILE – Jovelyn Gonzaga. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Jovelyn Gonzaga returns to Cignal ahead of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference in June.
The HD Spikers on Wednesday welcomed back Gonzaga, who last played for their club in the 2019 Philippine Superliga.
The veteran opposite spiker has been part of Cignal from 2017 to 2020 but she played for the Army Lady Troopers in the past PVL two professional seasons since she is a military personnel.
Army will not join the Invitationals due to lack of players, who are currently in military training.
Gonzaga was wearing two jerseys four years ago playing for Army in the PVL and Cignal. The 31-year-old hitter led the HD Spikers to a PSL Finals when she last played for the club.
The Philippine women’s beach team star, who missed the podium in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia weeks ago, is returning to PVL action after skipping the All-Filipino Conference due to her national squad commitment.
Gonzaga is reuniting with her best friend Rachel Anne Daquis and her former Philippine women’s volleyball team coach Shaq Delos Santos.
Gonzaga will be a big boost to Cignal, joining wing spikers Daquis, Ces Molina, Chai Troncoso, Jerrili Malabanan, and new recruit Vanie Gandler.
The HD Spikers, who were part of the podium in three conferences last year including a silver medal finish in the Reinforced, look to bounce back from missing the All-Filipino semifinals, winning only three of their eight elimination matches.