For Cignal skipper Rachel Daquis, the HD Spikers’ character-building win against the Choco Mucho is just a bonus for the team.

After all, they picked up something much, much important in that win — maturity.

“Actually, ang ganda nung sinasabi lagi samin ni Coach [Shaq delos Santos] kanina sa amin,” said the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 All Filipino Conference Conference MVP.

“Sinasabi niya na no matter what yung maging resulta ng game basta gagawin namin yung laro namin. Yun talaga ang importante.”

Already a point away from securing the opener, 19-24, the HD Spikers yielded seven consecutive points, which allowed the Flying Titans to run away with a 1-0 advantage in the contest.

Cignal lost the second set once more before flipping the table upside down and coming out with a 24-26, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-11 win for its second consecutive win in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.

“Yun talaga yung importante. Alam mo ba parang bonus na yung pagkapanalo namin dito kasi alam mo na test dito yung maturity ng team.

“Yun yung pinaka unang na-gain namin dito from the two sets ng Choco Mucho tapos nakuha namin yung three sets,” the 34-year-old FEU product added.

Prior to the tournament, the team has been working hard to address its end-game execution. In addition, in this match, the HD Spikers proved that they have, indeed, put a plug on that concern.

And Daquis could not thank head coach Shaq Delos Santos enough for helping them get to this point.

“Ang pinaka talagang naging record samin yung nasubukan yung team namin na dati kumbaga bago pa lang pero ngayon nakikita mo na nagmamature na,” said Daquis.

On the other hand, Royce Tubino, who was ruled out of the tournament due to schooling, made a surprise appearance for Army-Black Mamba against Petro Gazz on Thursday night.

And with her status in the team’s future games still up in the air, Tubino made sure to leave it all out on the floor for her beloved team.

“For me kasi basta for the team, gagawin ko yung lahat,” said the 29-year-old outside spiker.

“Kaya ako nandito, para sa team kaya bumalik ako para sa team talaga. Ginawa ko talaga yung best ko makatulong kay ate Jov [Gonzaga], gagawin ko yung best ko.”

Tubino, who came off the bench in the first set before starting the next three, poured nine points to help the Lady Troopers upset the Angels, 25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, for their first win in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.

For the 5-foot-9 product of Perpetual, this win will be a huge boost to Army’s momentum especially after coming off a gallant four-set stand against the Cignal HD Spikers on their debut.

“Syempre ito yung first step para ma-boost yung morale namin. Galing kami sa talo sa Cignal, pero ito yung step na kaya kami nanalo ngayon para ma-boost yung morale namin talaga. Step by step hanggang makuha namin yung Final Four,” said Tubino.

As for her status in the team’s remaining games in the Invitationals, Tubino respectfully declined to comment but said she is more than willing to suit up if the higher-ups allow her to.

“Di ako mag-cocomment about diyan kasi hindi ko rin alam yung status ko,” she said.

“Basta ako ‘pag pinayagan ako mag-laro, maglalaro ako para sa Army.”