Rotter making up for lost time

Steve Rotter is on a mission to make up for lost time with powerhouse Cignal.

His consistency as a stabilizer for the HD Spikers has kept the club unbeaten in four games in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

The Filipino-American hitter, who saw limited action in Cignal’s title run in the Invitational Conference last year due to an ankle sprain, is on a scoring tear, averaging 15.0 points in the past week.

Rotter unleashed an efficient offensive game in their 25-21, 25-13, 25-19 manhandling of VNS-Laticrete in just two sets of action on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The 26-year-old spiker sustained his efficient form, dropping another 15 points on a 14-of-22 attacking clip in a come-from-behind win over PGJC-Navy, 19-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“(The keys were) my consistency and drive. I was injured a lot throughout the entire season last year. So I have a drive to stay on the court and contribute as much as possible,” Rotter said.

‘Every set that I had, I wanted to kill the ball and I played with a lot more confidence.’

“I just think about all the times I was not playing — it’s a way to be motivated all the time.”

All of his effort did not go unnoticed as Rotter became the second straight Cignal star to cop the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of 26 February to 2 March.

The former national team gunner bested last week’s winner and teammate Jau Umandal, the Criss Cross duo Ish Polvorosa and Jude Garcia, and CJ Segui of VNS for the weekly citation handed out by print and online reporters covering the competition.

The 6-foot-6 spiker from California also credited his solid play to setters Owa Retamar and EJ Casaña.

“I’m definitely playing with a little bit more aggression. Every set that I had, I wanted to kill the ball and I played with a lot more confidence. I have to thank my setters for setting me in all the balls and putting me in the right positions,” he said.

Facing their rival Criss Cross on Wednesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre and Alpha Insurance on Sunday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig, Rotter has no plans of slowing down until he helps the winningest Spikers’ Turf club complete another successful title run.