Quezon city: Maria Angelica Cayuna was named Press Corps Player of the Week for anchoring Cignal's return to the semifinals in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference. The 27-year-old product of Far Eastern University delivered 30 excellent sets and scored 11 points as the Super Spikers pulled off a 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory over the Cool Smashers on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cayuna beat teammates Erika Mae Santos and Vanessa Gandler, PLDT's Savi Davison, Nxled's MJ Phillips, Akari's Ivy Lacsina, Galeries Tower's Jean Asis, and Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina for the weekly honor given by print and online reporters covering the league organized by Sports Vision. "During practice, the coach asked us what our goal was, points and excellent sets, so I said 30 plus, that's what I said [in sets] and double digits in the score. So I really did it," the four-time PVL Best Setter said in a news release Sunday.
Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos stated that his players set a standard as motivation to beat the Creamline and return to the semifinals after two conferences. 'They committed because I said we need our intention. What do we want to do to win, which is what they gave us in our huddle,' Delos Santos again. 'I'm proud because they really did what they wanted to do.'
Cignal will have a couple of weeks to prepare before plunging into the Final Four starting April 11 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Creamline, with 10 PVL titles, will have another shot at a semis berth in the play-in stage against the winner of the Akari-Choco Mucho clash. PLDT is also through to the semis defeating Farm Fresh, 18-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-22. It awaits the winner of the Nxled-Galeries play-in matchup.
