MANILA, Philippines – A loaded Cignal squad will be ready to compete at a high level when the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference opens on October 30 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

According to head coach Edgar Barroga, Cignal has secured the services of Royse Tubino, Lutgarda Malaluan and Roselyn Doria for the season-ending conference of the league.

Tubino, a member of the Cignal squad that won the Invitational Conference last year, will make her return to spark the offense, while Malaluan and Doria are expected to shore up their defense.

Skipper Rachel Anne Daquis will also return, along with mainstays Janine Navarro, Rialen Sante, Jheck Dionela, Acy Masangkay, Cherry Vivas, Cindy Amutan, May Macatuno, Rap Aguilar and Shirley Salamagos.

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Rising star Mylene Paat will be back, armed with more experience after a successful stint with the Philippine national team in the Asian Games and the AVC Asian Women's Cup.

"We like our chances this conference. All our needs were addressed both on offense and defense," said Barroga.

"Right now, we're working on our chemistry inside and outside the court," he added. "As much as possible, we need a little more practice time with them so they can study our system and get into the flow of the team."

The HD Spikers pulled off a stunner last year when they paraded a solid roster built around veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga, Daquis and Tubino, three players who had been part of a successful Philippine Army team.

Cignal, then under the tutelage of George Pascua, emerged with a bronze medal, just behind Petron and F2 Logistics.

The goal now is to either match or surpass that performance, according to Barroga.

"We're slowly completing the pieces," said the coach. "It's now a matter of making them work together."

"Our goal this year is to match or surpass what we've accomplished last year," he added. "I know it's not going to be easy, but I'm confident that the girls will all work hard to get it."

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