BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos is not yet giving up on the HD Spikers’ Premier Volleyball League Open Conference campaign.
Despite being out of the final four race, Delos Santos is still hoping that his squad can find a fitting end to its tumultuous campaign.
“Kailangan namin ng magandang ending.
“Ibig sabihin best na magagawa namin and siyempre plus na kung mananalo yun yung gusto namin,” said Delos Santos after Cignal’s valiant, three-set loss to Creamline. “Kung nag-start man kami na panget, sabi ko nga gandahan natin yung ending. Yun yung gusto naming ending.”
Delos Santos’ wards, despite losing in just three sets, made sure to push the defending champions to the edge.
The HD Spikers even threatened to steal the second set before the Cool Smashers eventually regained their composure for the 2-0 lead.
Cignal once again displayed grit in the third and final set but eventually lost steam as Creamline capped off the match with a blazing 7-0 run.
The loss dropped Cignal’s slate to 1-6 — tied with PLDT at the eighth spot.
“Para sa akin, based sa mga galaw namin nung past few game, good na nagkaroon kami ng three days na rest inayos namin yung training. Talks talaga at explanation. At least kahit papaano nakita namin na nagkaroon ng improvement. I think magiging okay pa yun sa sususunod na games namin basta kailangan maging prepared kami,” said the former Philippine women’s national team coach.
“Sa amin we need to accept na yun talaga yung naging kapalaran namin this tournament. We’ll never stop naman sa mga gusto pa namin mangyari kasi marami pa rin namang leagues na pwede naming salihan kasi sa transition din kami sa team ako as a head coach yung setter namin bago rin pero siguro sa ilang raw namin na practice nakita namin na merong improvement sa ginalaw namin,” he continued.
“Mas magiging inspired pa kami.”
Cignal still have two assignments left in Black Mamba-Army (Friday) and PLDT (Monday).
