Erin Pangilinan is stepping into the professional scene with the kind of excitement and optimism that only a new beginning under a seasoned mentor can bring.
Fresh off a decorated collegiate career with National University, the three-time UAAP champion middle blocker has found her next volleyball home with the Cignal HD Spikers, who selected her sixth overall during the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
What makes her PVL debut all the more promising is the man she’ll now be learning from — Shaq Delos Santos, a tactician renowned for his keen eye and unwavering commitment to developing elite middle blockers.
“Nakakaexcite siya for me especially maraming room pa for improvement and learning, so exciting na marami pa akong matututunan kay Coach Shaq,” Pangilinan said, clearly eager to evolve under Delos Santos' guidance.
The move to Cignal represents more than just a new chapter for Pangilinan — it's an opportunity to be part of a culture that mirrors her own work ethic and hunger to win. Having anchored NU’s dominance in the UAAP with her defensive steadiness and consistent presence at the net, she arrives with not only championship pedigree but also the humility to keep growing.
“I think malaki yung ma-iimprove ko with them, especially nga makakasama ko rin sila ate Jackie (Acuña), ate (Rose) Doria, and other teammates pa po. I think sobrang bright yung future ko with Cignal,” she added.
Indeed, the HD Spikers may not have lifted a PVL trophy yet, but their reputation as a podium fixture is undeniable — with two silver medals and five bronze finishes in 11 conferences. That hunger for a breakthrough title fuels the team’s drive, and the arrival of Pangilinan could be the injection of young energy and potential they’ve been waiting for.
Her championship background and mindset are exactly the intangibles Cignal hopes will help tip the scale.
“I think yung hard work (ang madadala ko) kasi lahat naman ng team hindi agad nasa taas eh. So yung paano magtrabaho, yung discipline, I think ayun yung isa sa madadala ko sa Cignal,” the former Lady Bulldogs captain reflected.
Pangilinan’s addition also fortifies Cignal’s already formidable middle blocker core, which features veterans like Jackie Acuña, Rose Doria-Aquino, and Ethan Arce. But she won’t be the only fresh face in the squad’s rebuild — joining her is Jessa Ordiales of De La Salle University, taken 18th overall.
Ordiales brings versatility to the mix. A natural middle blocker with the capability to play as an opposite spiker, she caught the eye of Delos Santos for her adaptability — a trait that could prove invaluable in tight rotations.
“Sobrang happy kasi sila talaga yung ina-eye namin na players and luckily napunta sila sa amin. We’re so happy kasi malaking contribution silang dalawa para sa amin,” said Delos Santos, visibly pleased with the draft outcome.
“I’m sure iniisip ng tao parehas middle sila pero kaya nila maglaro sa ibang position, so hopefully mas ma-maximize namin sila.”
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