Cignal veteran Rachel Anne Daquis dishes on her team's chances and her recharging offseason.
After three podium finishes in three conferences last season, the Cignal HD Spikers are out to claim the ultimate prize this year — and veteran Rachel Anne Daquis thinks the team is ready to finally win it all.
“’Yung Open Conference last season, ‘yun 'yung first conference namin together,” Daquis pointed out to One Sports. “Nag-bronze kami agad noon, wala pa kaming six months magkakasama. But this time, nagkaroon na kami ng one year together, so siguro kahit papano, ibang iba na rin 'yung mentality towards the game kasi matagal na kami magkakasama.”
The former Queen Tamaraw is so confident that she isn’t sweating the departure of several players, including wing spiker Angeli Araneta. Instead, Daquis is banking on the HD Spikers’ core to do the heavy lifting, with the holdovers growing “closer and more intact” after being together for a full year now.
“Kahit may dalawa kaming bago [Toni Rose Basas and Gyzelle Sy] at may umalis na iba, nandoon pa rin ‘yung core, so kung may adjustment man, very minimal lang.”
The 35-year-old outside hitter also feels recharged after Cignal gave the HD Spikers an extended break in the offseason — and some additional perks.
“Last year, sobrang binigyan kami ng break ni Cignal, so nakauwi kami sa family namin, naka-travel kami abroad, may bonus, so sobrang saya,” shared Daquis. “Nag-recharge lang talaga kami. Sobrang gandang blessing na binigay sa‘min ‘yun kasi iba pa rin talaga ‘yung nakakapahinga ka.”
While Daquis admitted to travelling a lot with her family last offseason, she assured Cignal fans she — and her teammates for that matter — are in tip-top shape coming in to the season.
“Kahit naman break nagpakundisyon pa rin ako, and nakakatuwa kasi pagbalik [namin], parang hindi naman kami nag-break — as in all in all, lahat kami,” Daquis further shared. “Very responsible kami sa katawan namin, sa kundisyon namin, and sobrang excited kami [for the season].
That should be good news to Cignal fans, who might finally see their team break through with a title — perhaps as early as this Open Conference.