CIGNAL bolstered its already formidable squad once again during the mid-year break by signing three UAAP stalwarts who were key players for their respective universities and teams.
The HD Spikers have signed setter Joshua Retamar, opposite hitter JM Ronquillo, and middle blocker Martin Bugaoan, further strengthening the team that recently won the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Retamar recently led National University to a ‘four-peat’, the first in the school’s history. He won three straight titles during his college career, culminating in back-to-back Finals MVP awards in UAAP seasons 85 and 86.
JM Ronquillo played for De La Salle University as part of its three-headed attack, serving as opposite hitter that saw the Green Spikers finish in the Final Four in the last two seasons.
Martin Bugaoan, the brother of Cignal HD Spiker JP, has also signed on, after finishing his collegiate career with FEU. He capped off his run with Far Eastern University with a 1st Best Middle Blocker Award in the recently concluded UAAP Season 86, where the Tamaraws finished third.
“Men’s volleyball has been gaining steam again as the pandemic died down, so we see it fit that Cignal sustains its dominance and excellence in the sport since 2013. The level of talent has been rising, and we want to get the best ones out there to bolster our squad and win more championships. Hopefully, these three will be here for the long haul and help us reach our goals each conference and season,” said Cignal HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor.
Cignal’s acquisition of these three stalwarts will help the team sustain its excellence in men’s volleyball, with a roster now considered to be more than 10 men deep.
After winning the Open Conference earlier in 2024, they are surely looking to make it a grand slam as they set their sights on a redemption tour in the Invitational Conference come October.