Fresh off their championship run in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, the Cignal HD Spikers are stepping into a new arena—this time, not just as club champions, but as flagbearers of the Philippines in the prestigious 2025 AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League.
Now competing under the name Alas Pilipinas, the squad is a mix of top-tier talent drawn from local powerhouse clubs Cignal HD, Criss Cross King Crunchers, and standout players from other rising teams.
Their mission? To hold their own against Asia’s finest when the tournament kicks off from May 11 to 18 in Hirakata and Kyoto, Japan.
In an exclusive interview in DZRHTV Matchpoint, Cignal HD head coach Dexter Clamor, who also serves as an assistant coach for the national team, shed light on the team’s unique composition and the stakes involved.
“‘Yung CIGNAL HD Spikers will represent the Philippines for the AVC. Actually ‘yung AVC ay ‘yung mga club team na nag-champion within Asia. So, since kami ‘yung nag-champion last conference sa Spikers’ Turf, kami ‘yung magre-represent for the AVC,” said Clamor.
But this is no ordinary club team. The squad, though competing under the Cignal name, is in reality a national selection—a blend of the best players from several clubs, handpicked to face Asia’s elite.
“But the players are coming from Cignal, Criss Cross, and from other teams. So, selection siya and national team talaga ang dala namin,” he added.
There’s little time for rest. Just days after celebrating their local championship, the team returned to training with urgency, fully aware of the uphill battle ahead.
“As an assistant coach sa national team, naghahanda kaming maigi. Bumalik agad kami after ng celebration [from the championship] kasi napakaimportante na makalaro kami sa AVC tapos ang ka-bracket namin is ‘yung top 1 at top 2 last year—which is ‘yung Japan at ‘yung China.“
“So, I guess, mas kailangan pa naming paghandaan [at] mas kailangan naming mag-double effort para atleats makapanalo manlang kami, kung hindi man one set, buong game ay magiging magandang exposure at experience na ‘yon para sa amin,” Clamor emphasized.
Among those suiting up for Alas Pilipinas are Cignal stalwarts Steven Rotter, JP Bugaoan, Jau Umandal, Wendel Miguel, Vince Lorenzo, EJ Casaña, Louie Ramirez, Lloyd Josafat, and Owa Retamar.
From Criss Cross, national team veterans Marck Espejo, Kim Malabunga, Gian Glorioso, and Lucca Mamone join the fray. Rounding out the squad are promising talents JM Paglaon from Savouge and Ike Barilea from Team 1Silay.
For middle blocker JP Bugaoan, the intensity of preparation mirrors the level of competition they’ll soon face.
“Unang-una talaga, walang reklamo doon sa training. Kumbaga ibibigay every training ‘yung 100 percent kasi nga hindi magiging gano’n kadali ‘yung journey namin sa AVC. Kaya kung gaano kahirap ang mga kalaban naman do’n, gano’n din kahirap ang training para pagdating sa laro mas madali
‘yung gagalawin at ipapakita namin,” he shared.
“More on strategy kasi ‘yung training namin sa AVC, kumbaga game situation. So, new system, marami sa amin ang naga-adapt sa system ni coach Frigoni, kaya ‘yun siguro ‘yung struggle namin to adapt faster sa paparating na liga sa AVC.”
Outside hitter Steven Rotter echoed the same grit, highlighting the physical toll of training—and the payoff they hope to reap.
“For the people that don’t know, we are playing the number 1 team in Japan and China. So, we have to overload as much as possible, we are jumping at least a hundred times a day. I can’t feel my legs but I’m holding strong because I know when it comes to the tournament time, we are gonna be more in shape than we were when we first started the national team training so I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.“
