Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference play-in tournament. –PVL PHOTO
They weren’t supposed to be in this position, but the Cignal HD Spikers know there’s no use in crying over spilled milk.
After finishing the preliminary round high up the leaderboard at No. 3, the HD Spikers were dragged back to earth by lowly Galeries Tower in the qualifying round and were demoted to the play-in tournament of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
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“It’s a lesson learned for us, and we’ll carry that with us wherever we go,” coach Shaq Delos Santos said.
READ: PVL: Galeries Tower stuns Cignal to advance to quarterfinals
With all the other doors closed, Cignal is left with only one way to enter the quarterfinals and it took one step closer to the right direction after shutting down Capital1, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15, Thursday night at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
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The HD Spikers now have the lead in the Pool A of the play-in tournament and has an inside track to setting up a meeting with Petro Gazz next round.
Cignal HD Spikers’ Dawn Macandili-Catindig in the PVL All-Filipino Conference play-in tournament. –PVL PHOTO
“After that loss, we felt really overwhelmed. While we were playing, we didn’t even know what was happening,” Delos Santos said. “But the good thing is, our management really motivated us. Through ups and downs, they were there—taking care of us and reminding us of our goal.”
“As a leader, I have to be composed in those situations and think about what our next steps should be, even after experiencing such a painful defeat,” he continued.
“Honestly, it was really heavy for us, but that also became our inspiration. It was tough, but that’s where we draw strength to bounce back and recover. And truthfully, it hasn’t been easy for us,” he added.
The HD Spikers were obviously motivated as shown by Vanie Gandler who punched in 21 points, all but one from attacks, Roselyn Doria-Aquino who dropped 18 points built on 13 attacks, three blocks and a pair of aces and Ishie Lalongisip who contributed 15 points.
READ: PVL: Cignal puts manpower woes behind to get No. 3
Cignal left no stone unturned in the fourth frame with an 8-0 run to water down all the hopes by the Solar Spikers to further extend the game, 15-9.
It doubled down with a 5-0 run to widen the margin to 10 that even with Shola Alvarez and Des Clemente-de Guzman’s efforts didn’t make any difference down the stretch as Chamberlaine Cuñada and Jov Fernandez teamed up to end the match.
“[I immediately thought of the] opportunity to still make it to the quarters,” Dawn Macandili-Catindig said after recording 18 excellent digs. “Although it is a challenge that we have to go through the play-in, it’s the reality that we need to accept.”
Trisha Genesis and Leila Cruz spearheaded the effort of Capital 1 with 12 points apiece. But even with those output, the Solar Spikers moved on the brink of elimination.
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Cignal can go for the kill when it battles ZUS Coffee on Tuesday before Capital1, with its fate no longer in its hands, battle the Thunderbelles next Thursday, both still in the Pasig City venue.
