Cignal Super Spikers women’s team files leave of absence from the Premier Volleyball League

IT WAS GOOD while it lasted.

Just fresh from its runner-up finish in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, Cignal has stepped away after a five-year journey in the league that resulted into three runner-up performances and five third-place efforts.

“This is to officially announce that the Cignal Super Spikers, women’s volleyball team has filed a leave of absence in the Premier Volleyball League,” said the team in a statement.

“This difficult decision was taken after careful review of Cignal’s strategic direction,” it added.

The recent news left the league with just nine teams including the Creamline Cool Smashers, who denied the Cignal Super Spikers their breakthrough crown in the most recent conference.

It also came on the heels of Chery Tiggo’s disbandment in December last year and Petro Gazz’s leave in January this year.

Cignal’s men’s team in the Spiker’s Turf also went on a leave.

While they didn’t win the biggest trophy of them all, the Super Spikers still made the most out of their PVL stay by making the podium in eight of the 15 conferences they participated in.

The Manuel V. Pangilinan franchise’s departure made orphans out of a number of talents including reigning MVP Vanie Gandler and PVL on Tour MVP Erika Santos. Also left without a club were Gel Cayuna, Dawn Catindig, Rose Aquino, Jackie Acuña and Tin Tiamzon among others.

Now expect the remaining squads to pounce on this bevy of great talents. — Joey Villar