Cignal ‘can’t afford to lose’ going into matchup with Chery Tiggo

Games Today
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. — Capital1 Solar vs Akari
6 p.m. — Cignal vs Chery Tiggo

JOVELYN Gonzaga, Cignal’s charismatic leader, knows that for the HD Spikers to survive the heated Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinal race, they needed to play with urgency and desperation.

“We can’t afford to lose,” said the 32-year-old opposite hitter whose squad clashes with a dangerously resurgent Chery Tiggo in today’s critical elimination round showdown at the PhilSports Arena, which could make or break the campaign.

Cignal is currently tied for fifth with Chery Tiggo, going into their 6 p.m. battle, with both risking their identical 5-2 records.

The winner of that duel would enter the magic four and share third spot with powerhouse Creamline and Petro Gazz, which own 6-2 slates.

Ms. Gonzaga, the so-called “Bionic Ilongga,” is embracing the responsibility of helping the team playing its best by providing much-needed leadership for the HD Spikers.

“Hindi talaga ako vocal unlike Rachel (I’m not as vocal as Rachel),” she said, referring to former captain Rachel Daquis, who is on temporary leave. “Kailangan ko maging vocal and tulungan si Ces (I need to be vocal and help Ces Molina). Knowing Ces, very tahimik iyun at nasa transition pa ng pagiging team captain (Ces is quiet and still transitioning into the team captain role).”

“So kailangan ko talaga mag-step up para sa team, kailangan ko i-embrace responsibility (I need to step up for the team and embrace the responsibility),” she added.

The HD Spikers are expected to have their hands full in tackling a team that has strung together three straight wins, with their victims including contenders Creamline and Petro Gazz.

And the key for the Crossovers’ resurgence has been their much improved team chemistry.

“Mas maganda na chemistry namin, kumpara nung una (Our chemistry has been better than it was),” according tod Chery Tiggo skipper Aby Marano, who has been with the club for only two months.

“But we’re still working hard on that, as well as our communication as a team,” she added.

Akari (3-5), meanwhile, fights for dear life as it squares off with Capital1 Solar Energy (1-7) at 4 p.m. — Joey Villar