Cignal, PLDT looking good with tweaked lineups

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal HD and PLDT Home Fibr feature souped-up lineups under rejuvenated coaching staffs as they set out for the 2020 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix which unfurls Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Led by mentor Edgar Barroga, the HD Spikers have fortified their bench staff with the addition of former Petron tactician and Philippine women’s volleyball head coach Shaq delos Santos.

Delos Santos won four titles with Petron after taking over from George Pascua in 2016 before veteran mentor Emil Lontoc came in as his replacement early this year. He will serve as Barroga’s chief deputy as Cignal seeks to continue its fine Superliga play after back-to-back Final Four finishes including an All-Filipino finals appearance last season.

“First of all, thank you to Cignal for giving me an opportunity to continue sharing my knowledge in volleyball. I and the rest of the coaching staff will be just all-out in providing solid support to coach Edgar,” said Delos Santos, who is expected to form a superb tandem with Barroga as Cignal fields an intact core led by Rachel Anne Daquis, Jov Gonzaga and Alohi Robins-Hardy.

During the PSL Grand Prix’s recent presser, Delos Santos also bared a development in Cignal camp with an import change a week before the opener.

Delos Santos said they are replacing original import Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani with Cuba national team member Jennifer Alvarez.

As for PLDT, which lost major pieces in power hitters Jerrili Malabanan and Grethcel Soltones along with Jasmine Nabor to free agency, long-time coach Roger Gorayeb is set for a grand team return.

Gorayeb did not finish the recent Invitational Conference after being hospitalized due to multiple myeloma. Though he is still undergoing chemotherapy sessions, the seasoned mentor is recovering and already overseeing the Power Hitters’ training, according to PLDT top deputy Clint Malazo.