Umandal shining bright for HD Spikers

Jau Umandal is shining bright in a team full of stars.

Cignal barged through the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference with a quick 2-0 start behind Umandal’s stellar showing, rolling past newcomer Alpha Insurance and feisty Savouge.

His huge contributions to the HD Spikers’ winning run earned him the nod as Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of 21 to 23 February.

The former University of Santo Tomas standout set the tone in Cignal’s 25-15, 25-16, 25-23, sweep of the Protectors, scoring 10 points on an 8-of-16 attack clip last Friday.

He followed it up two days later with a 17-point eruption off an astounding 16-of-23 spiking efficiency as the HD Spikers downed the Spin Doctors, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19, to remain perfect.

Umandal’s topnotch offense pushed him past teammate Steven Rotter and the Criss Cross trio of Jaron Requinton, Jude Garcia, and Kim Malabunga for the weekly citation handed out by reporters covering the competition streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.spikersturf.ph.

But a champion is never satisfied with small wins, and Umandal realizes as much with the path to another title still littered with twists and turns.

“My mindset this season is to focus on every game and do my best to contribute to the team. It feels great to have a good start but I know I still have a lot to improve and work on,” he said.

“Especially against strong teams like Savouge, I must be composed and just follow our game plan. And it won’t be possible without the trust of my teammates and coaches, so I’m grateful to them.”

Umandal further credits his Cignal teammates — many of whom are part of the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team — for keeping him grounded no matter how often they cruise to wins as a cohesive unit.

“I’m lucky to be in a team filled with talented players. It’s big to have teammates that communicate well, help and push each other to play better,” he continued.

“Everyone’s contributing so it challenges me to do my part and play consistently.”

For Umandal, the best is yet to come, which can only bode well for Cignal and doom for everyone else.

“But this is not my best. That’s why I continue to work to improve my game,” he concluded.

Cignal’s next assignment for the week will be against VNS on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig and PGJC-Navy on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.