Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos moves on after PVL leave, focuses on UST’s UAAP title bid

MANILA, Philippines — It has been a roller coaster couple of days for Shaq delos Santos.

A few days after bagging the silver medal in the PVL All-Filipino Conference, the Cignal Super Spikers, coached by delos Santos, announced that they will be taking a leave of absence from the league.

A day after the news broke, delos Santos and the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses remained alive in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament after beating Adamson in the stepladder Final Four matchup on Wednesday.

The veteran coach, following their semifinal win against the Lady Falcons, said that while he acknowledges the painful end of Cignal in the PVL, he emphasized that things happen for a reason.

“Siyempre si Lord, parang yesterday sobrang ano ng pakiramdam namin, but now, binigyan kami ng another blessing na naka-survive kami. Kailangan lang talaga to move forward din, kailangang maging strong ka talaga,” he told reporters.

“Siyempre, hindi ganun kadaling mawala e. Mabigat pa rin. Kailangan ma-handle yung mga sitwasyon na yan and siyempre, marami namang taong nakasuporta sa akin. So parang sa akin, kailangan tulungan ko rin yung sarili ko na makapag-move forward,” he added.

Cignal, led by reigning Most Valuable Player Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos, Gel Cayuna and Dawn Catindig, fell against the Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL finals last week.

Rumors of the team taking a leave of absence, though, came during the championship round.

And on Tuesday, the disbandment became official.

Now, the league has nine remaining teams.

Cignal’s leave came after Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz just a few months ago.

Delos Santos, meanwhile, said that he will be setting his whole focus on the Tigresses as they try to climb the stepladder to the finals.

“Siyempre, sobrang laki ng utang na loob ko sa Cignal. Grabe yung opportunity na binigay nila sa akin. And then yung ano, yung respect na natanggap ko sa kanila kasi all throughout, nandiyan sila through ups and downs and I’m so grateful,” he said.

“Nanghihinayang ako. Dahil parang for how many years ko sa Cignal, ito yung nangyari. But, I think lahat naman may purpose and may reason kung bakit nangyari. So, siguro tuloy-tuloy lang and I'm sure magiging okay din ang lahat.”

UST will be taking on the National University Lady Bulldogs in the next round of the stepladder Final Four. The winner will clash with the La Salle Lady Spikers in the finals.