By Jean Malanum

FORMIDABLE. A group photo of the Cignal HD Spikers after winning the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference over the Criss Cross King Crunchers at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Dec. 15, 2024. Cignal now has eight titles. (PVL Images)  

MANILA – Winning their eighth championship on Sunday has inspired the Cignal HD Spikers to achieve more.

For coach Dexter Clamor, the championships are just the beginning.

“For the next conference, paghahandaan namin uli. We will work harder kasi marami pa rin kaming lapses na kailangan trabahuhin. Hindi kami titigil at magsasawang manalo at mag-champion ng mag-champion (We will prepare again. We will work harder because there are still lapses we need to address. We will not stop. We will never get tired of winning and becoming champions over and over again),” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

Cignal’s success is anchored on discipline and teamwork, he said.

Pinaghirapan ng lahat itong championship. Hindi lang isang tao o dalawa. Whole team ang nag-sacrifice, nag-aral, at nagbigay ng higit pa sa 100 percent (Everyone worked hard for this championship. It wasn’t just one or two people. The whole team sacrificed, studied, and gave more than 100 percent),” Clamor said

Cignal’s path to glory was difficult with such challenges as integrating new talents into their system and overcoming setbacks to Savouge Aesthetics and Criss Cross.

“This conference was very stressful,” Clamor said. “Maraming bagong players (There are many new players), so it was about teaching them the Cignal system and culture that has defined us for the last 11 years. They trusted the process and embraced it.”

Under Clamor’s guidance, key returnees like Louie Ramirez and new stars, such as Owa Retamar, JM Ronquillo, and Martin Bugaoan, performed well.

Ramirez credited the adjustments they made after their semis loss.

“The connection with Retamar was key. We ensured the defense couldn’t read us,” said Ramirez, who finished with 24 points, including 21 attacks, in the Invitational final.

Cignal looks forward to more success with continued pursuit of perfection and a deeper legacy that future generations will aspire to match. (PNA)