Capping off their elimination round campaign with a bounce-back victory, Cignal skipper Ysay Marasigan hopes that his squad could carry their winning momentum as they enter the semifinals of the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference.
“Parang sinubukan lang din kami, tinest kami kung makakabawi ba kami,” said Marasigan, a three-time UAAP champion with Ateneo. “Then magandang attitude ‘to, [magandang] momentum yung panalo ngayon para madala namin ‘to sa playoffs and masubukan namin kung talagang makakapagadjust kami sa lahat ng nangyari samin nung talo namin.
“Matatanda na din kami, kailangan naming bumawi kaagad. Kailangan matuto kami sa lahat ng pagkakamali namin.”
Cignal – who absorbed its first loss against Sta. Elena last June 30 – licked its wounds quickly and handed the Animo Green Blazing Spikers a straight set beating to end the preliminaries on a winning note.
However, according to Marasigan, the team still needs to address their complacency, stating that there are some instances where the team relaxes and loses its focus in the game.
“Siguro ‘yung kailangan naming dagdagan yung will namin para manalo.
“Kasi kinukulang kami minsan, masyado kaming nagrerelax, so siguro yung sipag, yung will talaga at yung focus sa paglalaro,” said the 24-year-old spiker, who had 12 points against Animo.
Also, with key players Marck Espejo, Rex Intal, and Peter Torres set to miss the team’s scheduled practices for the semifinals due to their commitment to the National team, Marasigan challenges himself and his teammates to stepup to the plate.
“Medyo malaking impact din yun sa amin, kasi sinasabi lang naman lagi ng coaches namin na kahit sino namang ipasok sa amin kayang magdeliver,” said Marasigan.
“So, kung ano ‘man yung mangyari, [kung] hindi ‘man maipasok sila Marck, Rex, and Peter, nandiyan naman yung iba naming teammates para magdeliver and gagabayan ko na lang sila. Dodoblehin ko yung time ko, yung leadership ko para ma-guide sila ng maayos.”
With Cignal facing its elimination round tormentor Sta. Elena in the Final Four, Marasigan and the rest of the HD Spikers are willing to claim their revenge.
“Magandang laban ‘to siyempre, nandoon yung opportunity namin para makabawi and kung ano ‘man yung lapses namin, kailangan naming ayusin sa training.”
