Rachel Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga. Photo from Cignal
MANILA, Philippines—Jovelyn Gonzaga is elated to reunite with longtime teammate Rachel Anne Daquis as she returns to Cignal in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference this June.
Gonzaga has rejoined the HD Spikers after three years as her mother club, Army Lady Troopers won’t join the midseason tournament with some of their players are currently undergoing military training.
The 31-year-old opposite spiker is looking forward to playing alongside her best friend, Daquis, as she believes their chemistry is still there despite being on-court rivals for the past two years.
“Subok na kami ng panahon ni Rachel. Ang gaan lang sa loob na makakasama ko ulit siya at for sure isa lang goal namin: ang championship,” said Gonzaga in a statement posted by the team on social media.
“Alam ko ilalaban niya ako at ipaglalaban ko din siya at ang team namin,”she added.
The tandem called “GonzaQuis” was on the opposing sides in the past two PVL seasons as the Army sergeant played for the Lady Troopers and had to leave Cignal when the league united all volleyball clubs in the country and turned pro in 2020.
Gonzaga, who skipped the All-Filipino Conference due to her commitment to the Philippine women’s beach volleyball team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, is thrilled to be back to Cignal as she last played for their club in the Philippine Superliga including a finals appearance in 2019.
“Masaya ako at nakabalik ako sa Cignal. Marami ako pinagdaanan sa team na ito. Makakasama ko na ulit sila at excited ako sa magiging laban namin this conference. Ibibigay ko lahat para sa Awesome Nation!” she said.
The returning opposite hitter is also reuniting with her former Philippine women’s volleyball team coach Shaq Delos Santos as she 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.