The Cignal HD Spikers are back on the winning frequency as they begin their PVL play-in campaign.
Despite entering with momentum on their side, the Cignal HD Spikers were on the wrong end of an upset against the Galeries Tower Highrisers to open the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying rounds last February 27.
The HD Spikers suffered a 17-25, 22-25, 25-19, 19-25 loss against the Highrisers, which relegated them to Pool A of the conference play-in along with the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles and Capital1 Solar Spikers.
But while the loss was heartbreaking, the team made sure to focus on the silver linings as they rebuilt their confidence for the play-in round.
“For me, as one of the ates, it was a challenge na paano mo ipapa-realize na mayroon pa kaming maganda na nagawa and it’s just that bilog ang bola,” captain Dawn Macandili-Catindig said. “Maraming pwede mangyari and nire-reassure lang kami ni coach [Shaq delos Santos] na there’s still an opportunity na makapasok pa rin sa quarterfinals, kailangan lang namin siya pagtrabahuhan.”
Breakout star Ishie Lalongisip viewed the loss as a “blessing in disguise”, as it urged the new-look Cignal to work even harder. On top of this, Lalongisip believes that the extra set of play-in games will provide much-needed mileage for the HD Spikers’ young core moving forward.
“‘Di lang kami nagiging positive, nagiging optimistic pa! Parang we’re always looking at the brighter side of every situation kasi pag nag-focus pa kami sa negative, wala lalo mangyayari sa team namin kaya ‘yun, parang blessing in disguise kasi mas marami kaming malalaro,” Lalongisip explained.
“So may mga situations kaming matutunan kung paano namin iha-handle na madadala namin sa mga ibang games.”
Cignal began their bounce-back campaign on Thursday after beating Capital1 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15 to ace their first play-in assignment. Vanie Gandler and Roselyn Doria-Aquino led the way with 21 and 18 points respectively, while Lalongisip added 15 markers in the winning effort.
Macandili-Catindig anchored the floor with 18 excellent digs, while setter Gel Cayuna tossed up 20 excellent sets in the one-hour and 57-minute affair.
Like his players, head coach Shaq Delos Santos knows that Cignal is drawing extra motivation from their qualifying round loss for the play-in.
“So sobrang bigat para samin, and ‘yun din ‘yung naging inspiration namin. Kumbaga ang bigat, pero alam mong ‘yun ‘yung paghuhugutan mo para makabalik at maka-recover ka ulit…Actually hindi siya madali para sakin, hindi siya madali and talagang ‘yung three days namin na training iba ‘yung nararamdaman namin,” Delos Santos reflected.
“Kaya nga sabi ko kanina napakagandang blessing ito samin, ‘yung pagkapanalo namin, kasi ito talaga ‘yung kailangan namin para not totally makalimutan, pero siguro lesson learned na lang para samin, and babaunin talaga namin ‘yun kung san man kami aabutin,”
Cignal will conclude their play-in this March 11 when they lock horns with Jovelyn Gonzaga and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. Should they top Pool A, the HD Spikers are expected to face the Petro Gazz Angels in the best-of-three quarterfinals starting this March 15.
While it’s an uphill climb to the quarterfinals, Cignal is nonetheless determined to continue their inspiring run for the ongoing All-Filipino Conference.
“Syempre ‘yung opportunity pa rin na makapasok sa quarters [is the biggest silver lining], and although it’s a challenge na we have to through the play-ins, it’s the reality na kailangan namin i-accept,” said Macandili-Catindig.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.