CIGNAL was not rattled by the moment, as it was rattled by Creamline at its best.
The Super Spikers conceded that their Game 1 loss in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference finals had less to do with the stage and more with running into a Cool Smashers side that finally looked like its usual self.
“Creamline really did their job. Maybe we were overwhelmed with how they played,” said Vanie Gandler, who still managed 17 points and 10 receptions.
READ: Sherwin Meneses says Creamline can't dwell on dominant Game 1 win
“[Naging struggle] ‘yung pag-handle namin ng pressure, mismo sa sarili namin. And siyempre, bukod sa ang ganda ng performance ng Creamline, ‘yun talaga ‘yung normal laro nila,” added head coach Shaq delos Santos.
Even then, delos Santos acknowledged that the weight of the finals crept in.
Despite this being Cignal’s third trip to the championship round, the combination of the crowd, the stakes and the moment took its toll.
“Mas naging excited kami na na-pressure dahil first time [ulit sa] championship, and grabe rin yung crowd. Sobrang sarap nga maglaro kanina but ‘yun nga, kinapos, kinulang, so accept lang natin,” he said.
“Sila pa nga ‘yung usually nagsasabi na parang kahit lamang sila or kami ‘yung lamang, parang same feeling lang. But kanina, iba talaga raw ‘yung feeling nila and siyempre, nire-respect ko ‘yun dahil sila ‘yung naglalaro sa loob ng court.”
Now facing a must-win Game 2, the message is clear: take the pressure off.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘wag niyong masyadong i-pressure ‘yung sarili niyo kasi mas gusto kong nailalaro natin kung ano ‘yung naging investment natin before, kung paano tayo nag-prepare,” delos Santos said.
“Kaya nga tayo nakarating dito eh, so kailangan lumabas lang ‘yung totoong game natin and that’s it. Wala na tayong ibang pagsisisihan or pag-uusapan.”
“We’re approaching the loss with our heads up. Like I said, the championship series isn’t over and we know the lapses and what we did wrong, so we were able to concede,” Gandler added.
“That’s why we’re not dwelling on our loss today.”
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