Cignal playmaker Gel Cayuna. PVL PHOTO
ANTIPOLO — Cignal playmaker Gel Cayuna became the first Premier Volleyball League’s Best Setter after the six-straight conference reign of Jia De Guzman.
The 23-year-old attributed her first individual award in the professional ranks to her reunion with coach Shaq Delos Santos and the HD Spikers, who had a total of four awardees including 1st Best Outside Spiker Ces Molina and Best Middle Blockers Rose Doria and Ria Meneses.
“I’m really thankful. Actually, I didn’t expect to get this award. I just keep on working hard everyday,” said Cayuna after earning her first PVL award on Friday at Ynares Sports Center.
“I’m thankful to my coaches and teammates because they trusted me and they were patient in developing my skills during our bubble training.”
The Far Eastern University standout believes the key to her success was the confidence she got from her spikers Rachel Anne Daquis and Ces Molina.
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“My self-esteem and the trust of my teammates helped me achieve this prestigious award. Ate Rachel and Ate Ces gave me confidence. It’s easy to get along with them. It allowed me to focus on my own performance,” she said.
Delos Santos, who brought Cayuna to FEU in 2016 and coached her in the UAAP until 2017, was glad that he was able to continue his program for the young setter in the pro league when they signed her in the off season.
“I’m happy that we had a chance to continue my program for her. She got a great opportunity and it paid off in the PVL,” Delos Santos said. “I’m sure her achievement will be an added inspiration for her to become better.”
“I’m so proud of Angel. She really exerted a lot of effort this conference,” he added.
Cayuna vowed that this individual award won’t stop her from striving to become better.
“This will not stop me from learning new things,” she said.