Cignal tries to pick up pieces of failed AFC bid

BACOOR CITY—After an impressive run that fell just short of a championship last conference, Cignal opens its bid in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference against PLDT Tuesday at the Bacoor Strike gym here.

Action starts at 6 p.m. with the HD Spikers hoping to pick up where they left off, when they dragged powerhouse F2 Logistics to the distance in the all-Filipino title series.

Also seeing action on opening day are Marinerang Pilipina, which takes on Generika-Ayala at 2 p.m., and Foton, which collides with Sta. Lucia in the 4 p.m. second game.

Opening ceremonies, meanwhile, are set on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

With a powerful roster composed of Filipino-American setter Alohi Robins-Hardy and veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Anne Daquis, Mylene Paat and Jheck Dionela, the HD Spikers made heads turn when they dethroned Petron and set up that clash with the Cargo Movers.

Although it fell, Cignal still made a strong statement that it is ripe to finally win a title.

And Daquis admitted that there is pressure entering this brand-new conference.

“Yes, there is pressure. It will always be there,” said the comely skipper, who also serves as league ambassador.

“But we’re not letting that pressure get into our heads. We’re just focused on one goal and that is to win the championship.”

Daquis added that their failed title run serves as a major morale boost for them here.

“Coming from a successful run in the All-Filipino Conference, the experience made us realize that we could do anything for as long as we put our hearts and minds into it.”

True enough, the HD Spikers are more experienced and more matured coming into the Invitationals.

Gonzaga, Paat, Robins-Hardy and Roselyn Doria, in fact, are coming off a successful stint with the Philippine team in the first leg of the Asean Grand Prix.