Prized setter Gel Cayuna re-signs with Cignal as she eyes to help the HD Spikers reach greater heights in the coming 2024 Premier Volleyball League season.
The 2023 2nd All-Filipino Conference Best Setter winner will stay with the club, which has collected a runner-up and four bronze medal finishes since joining the league in 2021, according to her agency VP Global Management’s official statement released Friday, 5 January.
“I guess we’ve already established our presence in the league since we’ve already been at the podium many times. So, our next mission is to really get into the finals again, especially with a very competitive season coming in,” the 25-year-old setter said.
Cayuna weighed her options following Cignal’s third-place finish in the season-ending conference last December as “many tempting offers” were dangled in front of her.
But the Far Eastern University product ultimately decided to stay put with the same club that helped hone her skills to become one of the most sought-after playmakers in the league.
The system of head coach Shaq delos Santos, culture, camaraderie, and the reinforced team composition were the factors that convinced her to stay.
“Overall, I want to continue what the team has started. The team and I have an unfinished business to settle. We have to work harder and hopefully, moving forward, everything will work our way,” Cayuna said.
The Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte native joined Cignal in 2022 and worked her way into the team’s regular rotation.
Cayuna had an impressive run in the 2nd AFC after averaging 4.44 excellent sets per frame and finishing second in service efficiency with 0.37 aces per set.
Teaming up with scorer Ces Molina, young star Vanie Gandler and veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga, Cayuna helped the HD Spikers reach the semifinals.
Cignal fell short of returning to the finals after a runner-up finish in the 2022 Reinforced Conference at the hands of Choco Mucho. The HD Spikers beat Chery Tiggo in the battle for third.
Cayuna also expressed excitement playing alongside new acquisitions decorated libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig and fellow FEU alumna Jov Fernandez. Both players signed with Cignal after the disbandment of F2 Logistics.
“I’m super excited to play with Dawn. I mean ever since, we’ve been blessed with great liberos with Ate Jheck (Dionela) but it gives us more advantage now that we have her in the team,” she said.
“Then we also have Jov Fernandez. Although we didn’t play together in FEU, we have that FEU connection. We all know how deep the volleyball culture in FEU is so I’m excited to play with her”.
Cignal has joined the recruitment spree before the season opens on 17 February.
The HD Spikers, however, parted ways with Jerrili Malabanan and liberos Angela Nunag and Bia General, who transferred to Choco Mucho. Cignal is expected to name another recruit soon.
