Ayel Estrañero provided Cignal with a huge boost on Saturday night.
Playing without starting setter Gel Cayuna, Estrañero embraced the spotlight and produced 12 excellent sets to lead the HD Spikers to a 25-23, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Chery Tiggo in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The 25-year-old UP product expressed her gratitude to both her teammates and coaches for trusting her and allowing her to take the lead in the match where they earned their third consecutive win of the tourney.
“Yung simpleng tapik nila, yung simpleng instructions ni coach [Shaq delos Santos] malaking bagay,” said Estrañero.
“Very grateful kay Lord kasi hindi naman namin maa-achieve ‘to without His guidance and siyempre sa trust din ng coaches and teammates and sa tulong din nila. Yung lakas ko talaga saka yung confidence ko nanggagaling din sa tiwala nila sa akin,” she added.
Estrañero said that she just relished the chance to play alongside her veteran teammates which, according to her, gave her the much-needed confidence in her first start since the 2021 Open Conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
And if ever Cayuna will not be available on Thursday, the former Motolite playmaker said that she is more than ready to step up again.
“Siyempre privilege yun kasi hindi naman lahat gets the chance para maging teammate sila and iba rin kasi yung nabibigay nila na… alam ko kapag nag-set ako kahit magkamali ako gagawin nila yung best nila. Siyempre veterans na rin sila, iba rin talaga yung meron kang mga ate sa loob ng court,” said Estrañero.
“Yung sinabi ni coach mas nagfo-focus kami doon sa process namin, we’re not looking ahead into the game sa Thursday kasi syempre babalik pa kami sa training, aayusin pa namin yung mga dapat naming ayusin so yung goal talaga namin is to really just keep on improving as a team, yung chemistry namin, yung performance namin every game. Ayun, nandoon yung goal pero mas mag focus kami sa process.”
