She's a do-it-all but unassuming setter.
The Petro Gazz Angels’ Djanel Cheng might be local volleyball’s most unassuming setter.
That doesn’t mean she isn’t any good. She is good—very good. And while she goes about her business with little fanfare, she does so with a self-assuredness that is palpable in her every move, in her every set.
And on Thursday, with the Angels in what is pretty much a must-win game in just the second day of the PVL Invitational Conference, Cheng again delivered the goods. The national team member chipped in 8 points on 5 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace, and 20 excellent sets to help Petro Gazz overcome a very game Foton Tornadoes in four sets, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Cheng’s big game versus Foton was reminiscent of her masterful showing for the national team in its AVC Challenge Cup win against India just a week ago, which she helped seal with a couple of big-time blocks and an ace in the fifth and deciding set.
Fittingly, Cheng was named best player of the game, and she shared in her live post-game interview how she figures out when it is time to get creative with her sets and mix them up.
“Siyempre, pag marami nang napo-points sa ‘min, kelangan na natin maging creative para magkaron ng puntos,” said Cheng, who also emphasized the Angels' on-court chemistry as being a crucial factor moving forward.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun [chemistry] kasi ‘yung jelling nandun na,” Cheng pointed out. “Wala nang kapaan, amoy na namin ‘yung isa’t isa.”
The team player that she is, Cheng also tried to give Petro Gazz one last assist by trying—albeit indirectly and in jest—to make a last-gasp appeal to Korea-bound star middle blocker MJ Phillips to stay with the team.
“Pwede niyo po ba itali si MJ para hindi na umalis,” said a smiling Cheng, who was getting a warm hug from Phillips by that point.
That’s Djanel Cheng in a nutshell. She will do whatever it takes to help her team.