CIGNAL didn’t just come in chasing payback. It came in with promises to keep.
The Super Spikers’ gritty five-set win over Creamline in the qualifying round was as much about redemption as it was about delivering on individual commitments laid out before the match.
READ: Vengeful Cignal outlasts Creamline, punches ticket to PVL semis
Less than a week removed from dropping a five-setter to the very same Cool Smashers in the prelims, Cignal made sure the rematch would be different, sharpening not just its execution, but also its poise under immense pressure.
Head coach Shaq delos Santos revealed he challenged his players to define exactly what they wanted to achieve, especially with a semifinals berth on the line.
“Nag-commit naman sila kasi sabi ko, kailangan [malinaw] ‘yung intensyon natin na ano ba ‘yung gusto nating gawin para manalo, which is ‘yun ‘yung mga binitawan nila sa’min du’n sa huddle namin,” he said.
“Sobrang happy and nakaka-proud kasi nagawa talaga nila ‘yung mga gusto nilang gawin.”
Indeed, they delivered.
The star trio of Gel Cayuna, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos all lived up to the goals they set for themselves, with Cayuna producing one of the most remarkable lines of the conference.
The veteran setter tallied 35 excellent sets and even chipped in 11 points, completing a rare double-double in both playmaking and scoring.
“Sa ensayo kasi, tinanong kami ni coach [Shaq] kung ano ‘yung kaya naming points pati ‘yung excellent sets,” she said.
“Sabi ko kasi, 30 plus ‘yung sa sets and double-digits sa score, at talagang nagawa ko ‘yun.”
For Gandler, it all boiled down to one thing: “We all achieved our goals.”
One-upping Creamline
But beyond the numbers, it was the challenge of outsmarting the 10-time champions that stood out most for the Super Spikers.
“Mentally din kasi, mahirap kalapan talaga ang Creamline. ‘Yung skills, nandyan na eh. Du’n na lang sa kung paano mo lalaruin and kung paano mo i-a-outplay ‘yung Creamline,” Santos said.
This time, Cignal didn’t just prepare better, as it was able to deliver exactly what it promised, and will now have roughly two weeks to gear up for the single round-robin semifinals starting April 11.
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