Cignal HD Spikers’ Ces Molina is the PVL Invitational Conference MVP. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ces Molina winning her first-ever Most Valuable Player award in the Invitationals inspired the Cignal HD Spikers to continue reaching greater heights in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos said that Molina’s emergence as the league’s top player not only boosted her self-confidence but also motivated the whole team ahead of their 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign starting on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“She became an inspiration to the team. When we returned to practice she became more inspired and confident in everything she does,” Delos Santos told reporters in Filipino.
“She’s one of the best examples to the team and as the new team captain, she shows her leadership and hard work and her continuous improvement on and off the court.
The star outside spiker was appointed as the team captain this conference with longtime skipper Rachel Anne Daquis still in the United States for a coaching camp and will miss their opening game against PLDT on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Cignal coach said Daquis arrives home on October 18 and will be with the team in their second game against Creamline on Oct. 21 in Batangas.
Molina downplayed the confidence she gained from her impressive MVP campaign in Cignal’s bronze medal finish last conference, remaining focused on bringing back the HD Spikers to the finals a year after they reached the Reinforced championship series but settled for silver after losing to the Petro Gazz Angels.
“My ultimate goal is to help the team. I always say that an individual award is just a bonus. We want to reach the Final Four and eventually enter the finals because it’s been a year since we last played in the championship,” said Molina in Filipino. “I agree that [my MVP] was a confidence booster but what matters most is my performance for the team [this conference].”
The former Philippine women’s volleyball team spiker admitted she has high expectations for the HD Spikers, also boosted by Jovelyn Gonzaga, Vanie Gandler, Ria Meneses, Rose Doria, Angel Cayuna, and Jheck Dionela, in the second All-Filipino Conference.
“Honestly, I have high expectations for my team because coach trained us hard and prepared well for this conference. That’s why I set high expectations for my team because our goal is to reach the final stage,” Molina said.