Hardened by adversity, Super Spikers get another shot at breakthrough title
Cignal’s breakthrough Finals run in the PVL All-Filipino Conference was forged through heartbreak, roster rebuilds and adversity that tested coach Shaq Delos Santos.
Since their last title series appearance in the 2024 Invitational Conference, where they ended as sorry footnotes to Creamline’s completion of the Grand Slam, the Super Spikers have undergone major changes after losing key veterans Rachel Anne Daquis, Jheck Dionela and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
It didn’t end there as their struggles continued with a 10th-place finish in the previous All-Filipino, where they lost a KO game against Galeries Towers, as Cignal got depleted even more with Ria Meneses and Ces Molina opting not to renew their contracts.
“I’ve tried a lot of ways to find the right balance and make the right adjustments,” Delos Santos said in Filipino after a four-set win over the Cool Smashers on Tuesday night. “At the same time, the players have also adjusted to me and how they absorb the system we work on every day.”
Coupled with those setbacks, the Super Spikers have risen from the ashes.
Stronger and more cohesive, Cignal’s return to the Finals will be memorable after that vengeful 25-13, 13-25, 25-16, 25-16 win over the Cool Smashers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Our preparation has really been a big factor. The championship has always been the target and it’s about how you work for it every day and how you carry yourself like a champion,” Delos Santos said.
“We haven’t won a championship yet, but we have an idea of what it takes based on our experiences,” said the multititled coach of the defunct Petron crew.
Setter Gel Cayuna, now the leader of the Super Spikers, attributed their finals return to their coach, who never stopped working with the lineup he had until he developed it into a legit title contender.
“Even though we lost a lot and our core was broken up, coach Shaq was able to rebuild the team,” said Cayuna in Filipino. “We’re all really thankful because we stuck with each other. We didn’t look for anyone else.
“What we have now is what we fought for and worked with to get here,” she added proudly. “I’m just really grateful to everyone.”
Star scorer Vanie Gandler credits everything to a “selfless” team that also has On Tour MVP Erika Santos, veteran libero Dawn Catindig, Tin Tiamzon, Rose Doria-Aquino and Jackie Acuña.
“I just have so much gratefulness for the team because the player I am today is because of them,” said Gandler after dropping 24 points, 10 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions in Cignal’s Finals-clinching win.
“The way the team is performing is because we just want the best for each other. It’s really not for ourselves, it’s for each other,” she went on.
