Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler made their highly anticipated return for Cignal on Monday night, but their presence wasn't enough to secure a victory against the Creamline Cool Smashers. Despite their best efforts, the HD Spikers fell to Creamline in four sets, 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, at the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.
The loss has set the stage for a high-stakes encounter on Wednesday as Cignal faces the Japanese guest team and defending champion Kurashiki. The winner of this match will advance to the Final, making it a pivotal game for the HD Spikers.
Catindig and Gandler's recent experience against Japanese teams could prove advantageous. The Alas Pilipinas squad, including these two players, recently participated in a two-game exhibition series with Saga Hisamitsu Springs from the SV.League. Additionally, the Philippine national team spent time in Japan in July for a training camp, gaining valuable exposure to Japanese playing styles.
“Siguro mas magiging proactive kami ni Vanie kasi we have experiences playing against Japanese teams, not only yung sa Hisamitsu but also when we were training in Himeji,” Catindig noted, reflecting on their recent experiences. “In a way, they have these certain techniques na alam naming very standard ‘yun sa Japan and maishe-share namin yun sa team coming into this game.”
Despite only participating from the second set onwards, Catindig made a notable impact, finishing with 27 excellent digs on 44 attempts.
The game on Wednesday, scheduled for 6 p.m., will be crucial for Cignal’s chances of advancing to the Final. The HD Spikers are coming off a tough four-set loss to Creamline, marking their first defeat to the Cool Smashers after securing victories in both of their matchups last year.
As Cignal prepares for this critical match, the insights and experience gained from their recent encounters with Japanese teams could play a significant role in their performance. With a spot in the Final on the line, the HD Spikers will need to harness their knowledge and deliver their best performance to secure a place in the championship.
