Coming off back-to-back losses that eliminated them from championship contention in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Gel Cayuna and Cignal have only one thing in mind – to fight to the end.
After all, the HD Spikers are still in the running for the bronze medal match entering their Thursday matchup against Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam.
Fight they did, as Cignal quickly beat the Vietnamese guest squad, 25-13, 25-15, 25-20, to clinch a spot in the battle for third place on Sunday.
They will face either F2 Logistics or PLDT. If the Cargo Movers win in three or four sets over Kinh Bac, they will secure the other ticket.
Despite not yet knowing whom they will face on Sunday, Cayuna will retain her mindset.
“Masaya kasi noong nakaraang araw nakapagpahinga kami, at tinrabaho talaga namin para manalo ngayong game na ito kasi wala na kaming karapatang matalo para makuha namin yung bronze,” said Cayuna about their victory against Bac Ninh.
“Laban pa rin talaga. Tulad ng sabi ko kanina, wala kaming karapatang matalo basta kailangan may maayos kaming time na mapaghandaan yung kalaban,” she added, referring to their mentality in the bronze tussle.
Cayuna, the playmaker out of Far Eastern University, orchestrated their attack against Kinh Bac with 23 excellent sets and five points.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos has no doubt that his team will be ready for their next game to secure a podium finish, especially with a day to rest and recover from the grueling compact schedule of the conference.
“[Recovery] lang yung kailangan namin, then practice lang mabuti kasi tomorrow malalaman na namin kung sinong makakalaban namin so right after that, magtraining lang kami ng one day,” said Delos Santos.
“Ready naman itong team, kailangan lang namin ng magandang recovery and mindset lang na kailangan paghandaan namin mabuti.”
