An old reliable was, well, reliable in Cignal's opening-day win.
The Cignal HD Spikers made plenty of noise in the offseason after just falling short of a final four finish in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. The team signed former Ateneo Blue Eagles skipper Vanie Gandler for additional firepower. Then, it went out and brought back beach volleyball champion Jovelyn Gonzaga.
Both additions, incidentally, were instrumental in the HD Spikers’ opening-day win on Tuesday against the powerhouse Petro Gazz Angels. Gandler, the rookie, contributed 8 points, while Gonzaga chipped in 13 in her return to indoor volleyball.
They were impressive, all right, as was Ces Molina, who scored 22 big points for Cignal.
But it was setter Gel Cayuna who made Cignal hum after losing the first set, 18-25. With Cayuna setting up Gandler, Gonzaga, and company, the HD Spikers turned things around completely, winning the next three sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.
Cayuna, who also keyed Cignal’s turn around from an 0-2 start last conference to nearly making it to the semis, was fantastic all-match long versus Petro Gazz, taking control and dictating the action for the HD Spikers.
The former best setter finished with 22 excellent sets, underscoring the kind of heady playmaking Cayuna has been known for throughout her career. And this smart playmaking, at least for this game, led to four different HD Spikers scoring in double digits—Molina, Gonzaga, Roselyn Doria, and Ria Meneses.
With more weapons at the Cignal camp, Cayuna’s setting will be a major key to the HD Spikers’ quest of a podium finish this conference—if not a championship.
That quest is off to a good start thanks in part to Cayuna’s big game. Cignal will need more of the same in its coming games.