Winning solves problem, Daquis says after Cignal ends slump

Cignal HD Spikers celebrate a point in the PVL All-Filipino conference. – PVL PHOTOS

It seems a long way now, how Cignal was once dominant in the Premier Volleyball League. Two consecutive losses in the active All-Filipino Conference can cause people to forget.

But HD Spikers hopes to refresh everyone’s memories, one game at a time.

With Gel Cayuna leading the way, the HD Spikers beat Akari, 25-23, 25-20, 25-14, on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to register their first win of the tournament which the coach is optimistic about.

“For me, it’s part of the process,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos said. “… [J]because we did well last year, that does not mean we will have the same level immediately. We have a lot to adjust, a lot to fix.

‘Microwave’

With razor-sharp playmaking, Gel Cayuna has HD Spikers looking up after two straight losses. -PHOTO PVL

However, the team must do more to prove that they have regained the form that made them runners-up in the 2022 Reinforced Conference after their first win against a young Chargers squad that is still looking for its first win in this tournament.

“The solution to our problem is really winning. Maybe for us, we don’t have the ‘microwave’ mentality where everything is instant. There is no ‘instant.’ Everyone has to work hard,” said team captain Rachel Anne Daquis, whose 11 points led Cignal and helped knock off Akari’s bid in one hour and 38 minutes.

“We’re okay in our training, it’s just in our mind how we move on the court,” Daquis added. “This victory has a big impact on our team, it gives us a high morale. The team is happy and everyone is happy.

Cayuna’s smart playmaking resulted in 21 impressive sets that allowed the likes of Roselyn Doria and Ces Molina to thrive amid Daquis’ scoring resurgence.

“We train hard to achieve consistency and we always work hard until the end to achieve our goals,” Cayuna said.

After a tense first two sets where Cignal fought back and exchanged seesaws, HD Spikers put their foot down in the third to finally get into the win column.

“I hope this is a sign that we can do it [make a run],” delos Santos said. “We trained every day before this game and we saw the progress and confidence of the players.”

The progress will be tested again on February 18 when Cignal faces Petro Gazz, the team that made HD Spikers for the strengthened crown. Dindin Manabat, the veteran superstar who signed with Akari in an effort to maintain leadership and scoring for the squad, finished with 11 points to lead the Chargers, who have now lost three straight games.

Read Next

Don’t miss the latest news and information.

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.