Cignal HD Spikers’ MJ Perez and Gel Cayuna during the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — In a five-set thriller, “Chef” Gel Cayuna dished out 31 excellent sets while MJ Perez poured in 34 points to lead Cignal past the winless but gritty Galeries Tower in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
The connection between the Venezuelan spiker and three-time PVL Best Setter continued to flourish with a 30-point and 30-excellent-set combo to stave off the HighRisers, 23-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-14, 15-11, on Thursday evening at Philsports Arena.
Perez, who dropped 31 kills and three blocks on top of 16 excellent receptions, labeled Cayuna the team’s “chef” before the postgame interview after scoring nine points highlighted by four aces on top of her brilliant playmaking and 10 digs.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference second round
“It’s getting better every time. We have a lot of communication during the practice and especially during the game. That’s our key,” said the first-time PVL import. “Sometimes, if the ball is not perfect, I try to adjust. She’s trying her best to give me the best ball. We’re working together and we have a lot of communication.”
Cayuna said Perez makes her life easier with the veteran spiker, whom the HD Spikers call Amiga, who delivers whatever plays she cooks.
“The longer we go, the more we’re getting the sets she wants,” she said. “We always study the combination plays because we can’t rely on just the basics. So far, things are going well, and I’m looking forward to learning more and getting advice from Amiga.”
Their connection was tested by the Galeries’ tough floor defense with Perez and Cayuna needing to try different combinations to overcome the challenge and improve to a 6-1 record for the second seed.
READ: PVL: Cignal fends off Galeries Tower in five-set thriller
“Of course, it’s frustrating when they were defending all the time. But we adjust to score as many points as we can,“ Perez said.
“We cannot underestimate any team. They could be the last one but they’re good and they play very smart. We knew it’s not going to be an easy game. And for us, we don’t take any team as an easy team. We take our games very seriously. And this is proof of that. If we relax, they can win against us,” she added.
Cayuna, for her part, made sure to display grace under pressure to keep her team afloat.
“I really composed myself. There was some frustration, but I kept thinking that I really wanted to win,” she said. “I wanted to recover and help the team more. I was also thinking about my teammates the whole time.”
Cignal seeks to seal the second seed against Nxled on Tuesday at FilOilEcoOil Centre in San Juan City.