ILOCOS NORTE -- Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos knew hardworking Janine Marciano would shine in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
Marciano emerged as the leading scorer for the HD Spikers, averaging 13 points in their first two matches.
Delos Santos saw it coming for the 29-year-old spiker after he witnessed his players' hard work and discipline during the year-long inactivity due to the pandemic.
"Siyempre happy kasi masisipag naman lahat and Janine kasi isa don sa masipag na players and inaaral niya yung kung anong gusto niyang gawin and yung sistema," he said. "Proud kaming lahat kasi ang ganda ng nagiging performance niya, kahit nung first game namin. Hopefully lang mamaintain talaga namin.
Marciano unleashed 14 points to lift Cignal past Sta. Lucia, 25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 25-20, to enter the win column on Wednesday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center here in Bacarra.
The former San Beda star, who suffered a knee injury in 2017, said she didn't stop striving hard, even they were limited to online home workouts for most of the year-long lull.
"Yung one year po na napahinga kami talagang focused pa rin kami dahil alam naman namin na anytime baka puwedeng bumalik. So ready pa rin yung team namin," she said. "Hindi kami nag stop kaya ayun din yung motivation namin. Ayaw naming sayangin yung pinaghirapan namin before."
From playing off the bench, Marciano has stepped up her game with Cignal losing two key players, Alohi Robins-Hardy and star Jovelyn Gonzaga.
Their team may not be as deep as it was two years ago but Marciano said their bond is unbreakable.
"Nag e-enjoy lang talaga yung team and very happy na talagang nagtutulungan po and lahat nags-step up pati yung mga coaches namin very supportive," she said.
"Talagang tinutulungan kami bawat galaw namin sa loob ng court as in team effort po talaga." (AL)
