Ohmer Bautista
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
After a loss to Choco Mucho, Gel Cayuna made sure Cignal would regain their offensive form through her playmaking and return to the win column of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Gel Cayuna leads Cignal past SGA. | Photo (c) PVL
When Cignal saw its scoring go adrift in its first loss to Choco Mucho in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Gel Cayuna knew she needed to buckle down to business.
Cayuna, who only had 13 excellent sets in a straight-set defeat to the Flying Titans, doubled down in practice, leaning on the mentorship of HD Spikers head coach Shaq Delos Santos.
"Siyempre po pinanghuhugutan din namin 'yung last game namin na natalo kami," Cayuna shared.
"Sa ilang araw na binigay sa amin na preparation, talagang si Coach Shaq, tinutukan niya ako about setting at decision-making."
On Tuesday, the hard work paid off for Cayuna as she orchestrated Cignal's straight-set drubbing of Strong Group Athetics.
The three-time PVL Best Setter dished out 20 excellent sets, on top of five points. She generated the offense for the HD Spikers, who overwhelmed SGA in spikes with a 47-17 differential.
Aside from her fine performance, Cayuna is pleased to see her teammates rediscover their resolve after losing their fire the last time out.
One of the players who bounced back in the biggest of ways was Vanie Gandler. The hotshot pummeled a game-high 16 points on the hapless SGA, following a season-low four-point output against Choco Mucho.
"Siguro po 'yung pinakauna yung tapang sa loob ng court," the FEU product said when asked about the main takeaway from the Choco Mucho defeat.
"Kasi pag may isang nawala, talagang sunud-sunod na 'yung nawawala, kaya kailangan naming panghawakan talaga pag may isang nawala, may isang pupuno. Di siya pababa kundi hatakan pataas."
Cayuna and the rest of the HD Spikers aim to build on this emphatic rebound and carry over their winning ways versus the Creamline Cool Smashers on March 26, Tuesday.
"Siyempre kasi panimula ulit to na panalo, kaya hopefully talaga, lahat ng aaralin pa namin, simula sa itong panalo na to hanggang sa next game, mai-apply namin sa game lahat," Cayuna said.
"Siyempre dapat healthy muna kami at kundisyon yung katawan. Ibang bakbakan mangyayari next game."