–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Safe to say that despite everything that Cignal had gone through, the HD Spikers have successfully turned the leaf.
Orphaned by two main cogs, among other players, at the end of last year, the HD Spikers still went on to tab No. 3 seeding heading into the next round of the PVL All-Filipino Conference after a dominant game to close out their classification round stint.
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Rather than roll over and die, the HD Spikers chose to gut it out from there and have now achieved a finish that came as a surprise to many.
But not to the team and the one who now leads it.
“I didn’t really get surprised with the performance of the team because I trust everyone on this team,” said Vanie Gandler after leading the HD Spikers to a 25-17, 25-15, 25-21 whitewash of Akari on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
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“Even before everything that happened, [everyone has] been stepping up always,” added Gandler, who has stepped up as leader ever since Ces Molina and Ria Meneses opted not to renew their contracts at the end of last year which seemingly left a huge void in the team core.
With an 8-3 record, the HD Spikers will now await who finishes as the No. 10 squad which they will battle in a KO game for the right to be in the top six and play in a best-of-three series.
“I am happy because this is really our target, to hopefully take the No. 3,” said coach Shaq Delos Santos in Filipino. The seasoned mentor made the necessary adjustments and pulled out an ace in Ishie Lalongisip since the beginning of the year and is now the squad’s second deadliest gun.
“We won’t stop because there is still a lot to improve on [going into the next round] and we know that we can still get better,” Delos Santos said.
‘It’s really teamwork’
“Physical side, it’s kinda hard on our team cause there are only 12 [of us that] we can’t have an off game,” Gandler said after putting up a game-high 15 points. “But then, that’s why I say it’s really teamwork, when one person is off everyone else helps that person.”
With the quick work of the Chargers, the Invitational Conference silver medalists will take a three-game winning streak into the knockout round.
Before Molina and Meneses’ departure, the veteran Jov Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis, Anngela Nunag, Jheck Dionela and Chai Troncoso also bid the team goodbye.
“I became more motivated with everything that happened to us,” Delos Santos said. “Whether it was on what I need to work on or us coaches and giving players their new roles now that there are a few of them left.”
Rose Doria-Aquino punched in 12 points from nine kills and three blocks while Lalongisip accounted for 10 points.
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Gel Cayuna was her usually efficient self and finished with 19 excellent sets. INQ
