After returning from Alas Pilipinas duties, Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler helped Cignal snap a four-game losing streak.
The Cignal HD Spikers were successful in snapping their four-game slump at the PVL Invitational as they ushered back Alas Pilipinas players Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler in their last two games.
With Catindig and Gandler returning to the team against ZUS Coffee on Monday, the HD Spikers were back to full strength. Desperate to gain some ground, the two players proved to do wonders.
Catindig and Gandler’s presence helped steady the ship for the HD Spikers, who were left searching for answers after finding themselves in a 0-3 hole in the Invitational.
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After the breakthrough win over ZUS, the pair spoke about key learnings they got both from their Alas Pilipinas stint, and observing their teammates from the outside looking in that helped them lead the team back to their winning ways.
“For me, 'yung pagpasok namin pabalik mabigat talaga kasi siyempre, coming from a four-game losing streak, medyo mahirap as an athlete ibalik 'yung kumpyansa. So, ang pagbalik ko, ang sinabi lang din sakin ni coach is just do what you do. Hayaan mo na sila 'yung sumunod sa'yo. Ganon,” Catindig said.
“Kasi we have to show the kids that kahit anong mangyari, kahit anong sitwasyon ang ibigay sa'yo, you have to be playing consistent. Hindi ka pumipili ng situation kumbaga. Sa kahit anong situation, kailangan matuto ka na kung paano ka maglalaro ng kung ano 'yung nilalaro mo, parang ganon,” she added.
Catindig was Player of the Game in the victory over ZUS, tallying 18 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions. She also had a point to her name.
Gandler, meanwhile, was a key presence off the bench with six points in four sets as a substitute.
Joining forces with new signing Erika Santos, who finished with 21 points against ZUS, Gandler’s return marked additional firepower for Cignal which is crucial at this point of the tournament.
“Yung aggressiveness sa court, that’s what I saw. Hopefully, I can teach the younger ones, like Ishie Lalongisip, and I got that din from my experience in being brave. So like what Ate Dawn said, my mindset is not to change them but to really make sure to do what I need to do. Not just in games, in practice, outside of practice,” said Gandler.
“So that they say, you know, we’re doing our jobs and this is what will help the team.”
Cignal faces a short rest before they try to keep themselves at pace with the rest of the field in the PVL Invitational with one more game.
They face guest team Kobe Shinwa University on Thursday where they hope to stay alive for a spot in the podium.