Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos lauded Rachel Daquis for the fight she showed in the HD Spikers’ Game One loss in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference battle for bronze.
Daquis is currently not a hundred percent no thanks to Cignal’s grueling schedule which saw them play a total of nine games in the tournament — the most among teams.
The 5-foot-10 spiker out of Taytay, Rizal suffered from cramps last Monday which forced her to miss the crucial stretch of the HD Spikers’ Game Three loss to Petro Gazz.
With that, Delos Santos tried to limit Daquis’ minutes against Choco Mucho on Wednesday.
But of course, the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 All Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player did not let that happen, playing in three sets to finish with 10 points and eight excellent receptions in the four-set loss.
“Yun nga, kanina kung napansin niyo yung first two sets, kumbaga nag-usap naman kami and sabi ko nga sa kanya basta ready lang ha,” said delos Santos. “Alam mo yung parang ayaw ko talaga siyang ma-push na mapagod din ngayong game na ‘to kasi inaalalayan ko siya. Hindi na rin siya bata.
“Iba talaga yung fighting spirit niya e, sabi niya, ‘Sige, coach ipasok mo ako diyan.’ Kasi parang sabi ko, ‘Ready ka lang, ita-timing ko lang yung pasok mo.’
“Kaya nga nung una ko siya pinasok sa serve siya and then defense para lang ma-warm up din siya kasi ayoko naman nung sige biglang papalo ka agad kasi nakita naman natin yung nangyari last game,” he added.
Another player who drew praise from Delos Santos is Ria Meneses, who is currently bothered by a right knee injury.
“Masakit yung tuhod niya, meron siyang pain sa tuhod but yun nga isa pa yun kanina talagang pinipilit niya ako pero sabi ko, ‘Ri, mahaba pa, mahaba pa yung tatahakin natin, ‘di lang ‘tong liga na ‘to,” shared Delos Santos.
“Sobrang iniingatan namin kasi ganun namin ka-love yung players namin kasi ayaw talaga naming may mapahamak or madisgrasya.”
Daquis’ and Meneses’ limited roles also allowed Delos Santos to field in Klarisa Abriam and Marist Layug — who both made immediate contributions with 10 and seven points, respectively.
Cignal looks to even the series — or just win in three sets — against Choco Mucho on Friday, 3:00 PM at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
