EJ Casaña played an instrumental role in PGJC-Navy's four-set upset of defending champion Cignal in the 2022 Spikers' Turf Open Conference, Tuesday.
The Sealions, thanks to the win, bolstered its semifinals bid after moving to 3-1 while also ending the HD Spikers' 16-game winning streak and delaying their entry to the final four.
Casaña went steady from the line and bombarded Cignal's defense with heavy services that allowed PGJC-Navy to erase an eight-point advantage in the fourth set and complete the 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 win over the HD Spikers.
“Sobrang saya kasi champion team sila, back-to-back pa. Lalo na nung fourth set, akala namin nila coach wala na pero ang ginawa ko na lang is pinasok ko lang yung service hanggang sa manalo kami,” said Casaña, who finished with 18 excellent sets and five points.
“Nung una sa fourth set sobrang layo e. Sabi ko, sige lang, sige lang. Nung nag-huddle kami sa gitna, sabi ko isa-isahin lang namin, ‘di pa tapos ‘yan. Ang naging mindset namin, i-pasok lang yung service, block lang tao, i-sigurado lang lahat, walang error,” he added.
PGJC-Navy head coach Cecil Cruzada said that she was glad to have someone like Casaña on his team, who can step up in big-time moments like this.
“Malaking bagay talaga si EJ kasi nga dina-dala niya yung mga spikers niya, siya kasi yung inatasan ko na maging driver e,” said Cruzada. “Kumbaga, sabi ko siya yung driver bahala na siya pasunurin yung mga spikers. Malaki yung tiwala ko sa kaniya.”
