The Cignal HD Spikers remained supportive of the Philippine national volleyball team despite the absence of its players from an event that served as a final tryout for the national squad.
A total of five Cignal players were absent from the Clash of Heroes, a volleyball exhibition match last Monday that featured the country’s best volleyball players.
“Cignal, as one of the volleyball team owners in the country, continues its commitment to support the sport and our rally to the 2017 SEA Games,” the Philippine SuperLiga club said in a statement.
Cignal cited the team’s schedule as a reason why its players weren’t able to attend the event.
“It is unfortunate that we have received the official invite and advise for some of our players to participate in the Clash of Heroes only two days before the event,” the
“As much as our team and players are willing to participate in this event, we have already scheduled rigorous training activities and a camp, as early as April, that are impossible for us to cancel.”
Unable to play were Cignal men’s players Peter Torres, Mark Alfafara, Bonjomar Castel and Lorenzo Capate. As a result, they have been left off the national men’s volleyball team roster in this year’s Southeast Asian Games.
Cignal women’s team stars Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga were also no-shows but the national women’s team brass isn’t closing its doors to players who didn’t attend the match which included big names such as Alyssa Valdez, Myla Pablo, Kim Fajardo, Aby Marano and Grethcel Soltones.
Cignal hopes that the national team would still give them a chance.
“We firmly believe that the national team coaches will reconsider and come to a decision to give opportunities for the best and brightest volleyball players to represent the Philippines in the 2017 SEA Games, therefore giving our country the best chances of winning the games,” the club said.
