‘Gonzaquis’: Our tandem is one of a kind

The tandem of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Daquis has reached new heights as they power the Cignal HD Spikers to the semifinals with a 25-21, 25-15, 25-15 sweep of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL Invitational Conference at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday, July 18.

Gonzaga and Daquis, fondly called as ‘Gonzaquis’, said that their tandem is simply one of a kind and playing together just elevates their play and their team.

Gonzaquis, both wing spikers, got reunited after Gonzaga signed with Cignal following her stint with Army which skipped this Invitational Conference.

Jovelyn Gonzaga (left) and Rachel Anne Daquis PVL PHOTO 

“It’s funny because everytime me and Buday [Rachel] are together, not to brag, we’re always able to enter the semifinals or finals. My game is really different when Rachel is around and I’m gonna make a self-proclamation, she also plays well when she’s with me and even coach Shaq [Delos Santos],” said Gonzaga, who dropped 13 points against Choco Mucho.

Gonzaga, who played for the HD Spikers in the now-defunct Philippine Superliga (PSL) went on to share how she joined Cignal anew and that reason is mainly because of Daquis and Delos Santos.

“I think it all boils down to our trust with one another. In 2019, when I just recovered from ACL injury, I already conceded that I wouldn’t be able to return to the national team, that everything is already lost because I got out of shape but coach Shaq was the first to trust me and come to me and said ‘play for the national team again’

“I told him ‘coach I’m already fat’ but he told me that ‘I trust you tremendously’. It feels good to play [for that kind coach]. Everybody was asking me why did I return to Cignal despite there are other teams that are recruiting me, I told them I’m already used to coach Shaq’s system and how he trusts me, Rachel Anne Daquis is there, I don’t wanna start from scratch again. So I think it boils down to trust.”

The 35-year-old Daquis then shared how the 31-year-old Gonzaga has helped her especially during crucial matches.

“First of all, I wanna give credit to Jov, my teammates, and to coach to Shaq. I was struggling two games before this and even in training but Jovs [Gonzaga] told me to believe, that we play different when it comes to crucial matches,” said Daquis, who punched in 12 markers against Choco Mucho.

“I’m super happy because coach Shaq and the coaching staff never wavered in their trust me, in us. He’s patient with us during training. He really shows that rust and that’s why I told myself I can’t give up for this team because we work so hard. I’m really happy to be with Jovs. When we play on the court, wer really know how each other plays. But the credits goes to all of the team not just to the two of us. Credits goes to the whole coaching staff and the rest of Cignal.”

Gonzaquis and the HD Spikers finished the elimination round with a 4-1 slate.