By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Guimaras-native volleyball superstar Jovelyn “The Bionic Ilongga” Gonzaga is ready for another Premier Volleyball League (PVL) conference after missing the last one due to her commitment to the beach volleyball program of the country.
The exciting update was confirmed last May 31, 2023, when the Cignal HD Spikers revealed Gonzaga’s addition to their talented roster.
Gonzaga, a former national team skipper and one of the most efficient outside hitters in the history of PHL volleyball, is expected to boost Cignal this year and will reunite with superstar Rachel Anne Daquis.
The former Shakey’s V-League Most Valuable Player (MVP) was a mainstay with the Army Lady Troopers but due to their absence this conference, the Ilongga had to find a new home.
Despite her focus in the beach volleyball scene for the past two years, the HD Spikers management still had a lot of faith for Gonzaga and stressed that she will have no problem with the transition to the regular format.
This is a crucial campaign for the HD Spikers after only finishing sixth during the last PVL conference and will have a better chance of locking in the Final Four with the addition of Gonzaga.
Aside from Gonzaga, the HD Spikers also tapped the services of former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) standout Vanie Gandler.
During her final year with the Blue Eagles, Gandler tallied an impressive stat line of 154 total points, 12 service aces, and eight blocks.
Gandler immediately won a UAAP championship title way back in Season 81 and helped lead the Blue Eagles to successive Final Four trips.
Teaming up with Gonzaga, Gandler, and Daquis are Rian Meneses, Toni Basas, Jerrili Malabanan, Angelica Cayuna, Glaudine Troncoso, and Geneveve Casugod.
