Cignal’s Clamor: Eight is not enough

Louie Ramirez played a key role in the title-clinching match. —PVL IMAGES

Cignal coach Dexter Clamor made it clear that the HD Spikers’ dominance in men’s volleyball is far from over after they secured their eighth championship at the Spikers’ Turf Invitational on Sunday.

Cignal swept the Criss Cross King Crunchers in a decisive three-set match, completing a flawless season and cementing their status as the gold standard of men’s volleyball. Celebrating the win, Clamor remained laser-focused on the future.

“Tonight, we’ll celebrate,” Clamor said. “But for the next conference, we will prepare again and work harder. There are still lapses we need to address. We will not stop. We’ll never get tired of winning and becoming champions over and over again.”

Clamor emphasized that the championship was a collective effort, with every player contributing to their success.

“Everyone worked hard for this championship,” Clamor said. “It wasn’t just one or two people. The whole team sacrificed, studied [the game plan], and gave more than 100 percent [in effort].”

Key players

This season, the HD Spikers faced unique challenges, including integrating new players into their system and recovering from a semifinal stumble against the King Crunchers.

“It was about teaching them the Cignal system and the culture that has defined us for the last 11 years. They trusted the process and embraced it,” Clamor said.

Key players like Louie Ramirez and new additions Owa Retamar, JM Ronquillo and Martin Bugaoan thrived under Clamor’s leadership. Ramirez delivered a stellar performance in the final, scoring 24 points, including 21 attacks, to seal the victory.

“The connection with Retamar was key,” Ramirez said. “We made sure the defense couldn’t read us.”

The championship caps off a year of dominance for Cignal, who also won the Open Conference title in May.