Daquis turns back clock for Cignal

MANILA, Philippines — Cignal team captain Rachel Anne Daquis may no longer pack the same power and athleticism she had during her younger days.

But in times of trouble, you can count on the charismatic 35-year-old skipper to be there and will her team back.

Daquis did just that yesterday as she carried Cignal to a 25-23, 25-20, 25-14 victory over Akari for its first win in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was Daquis, one of the most recognizable figures in Philippine volleyball with her combination of beauty, wits and brawn, who got the job done on all fronts – scoring a team-high 11 points including eight on spikes and three off kill blocks while leading her team’s floor defense with seven receptions.

More importantly, Daquis re-energized the HD Spikers after faltering in the first two sets against a furious challenge from the Dindin Manabat-led Chargers.

Daquis’ overall presence helped Cignal claim its first triumph after a heartbreaking 27-25, 25-19, 25-22 defeat to Chery Tiggo a week ago at the PhilSports Arena.

“She’s a true leader,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos of Daquis.

After blowing an early lead and allowing Akari to knot the count at 23 in the opening set, Daquis helped calm the nerves that enabled Cignal to score the last two points of the set.

And when they trailed early in the second set, Daquis was there once again with encouraging words that helped the HD Spikers fight back.

Akari lost it all in the final set with nothing left in the tank. Not even Manabat, their prized acquisition from Chery Tiggo, could save the team even if she tried her best in finishing with 11 hits. Akari fell to 0-3.

In the nightcap, Creamline ripped Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14, to reclaim the solo lead with a perfect 3-0 record. The Flying Titans absorbed a second loss against a lone win.