Chery Tiggo head coach Aaron Velez and team captain Mylene Paat bared that the new-look Crossovers are built ‘for the long haul’ just moments after the team got eliminated in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
The Crossovers’ title hopes were sent down the drain by the High Speed Hitters, who came out victorious via a five-set, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 15-12 victory on Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“Regardless of the result, ganon naman talaga sa laro, may natatalo, may nanalo, but at the end of the day, it’s the learning,” Velez told members of the press after the loss.
During the offseason, Chery Tiggo nabbed five blue-chip recruits in Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, Jennifer Nierva, Cess Robles, and Joyme Cagande to backstop the core of Paat, EJ Laure, Buding Duremdes, and Cza Carandang.
Velez said that the team is in no rush to produce results. The former PVL champion coach believes that building a championship core composed of rookies will take time.
“We just want our players to be really healthy, they’re still going through their rehabs after their tournaments kaya sakin yung pinakita nila, we’re looking at the long haul,” said Velez.
“Hindi naman ngayon ito eh, so meron pa kami laro and tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa process na binubuo namin yung team namin and meron pa kaming mga idadala na baon,” he added.
Paat showcased her MVP form in the heart-wrenching elimination match against the Mean Mendrez-led PLDT, dropping 29 big points built on 22 attacks, four blocks, and three aces in a losing cause.
Her performance alone is already enough proof that the 29-year-old spiker is the leader that the Crossovers’ coaching staff expects her to be for the up-and-coming players of Chery Tiggo.
“Siguro trinain talaga ako ng mga coach na yung responsibility ko na kailangan, ito lagi yung finefeed sakin ng mga coaches eh, na kailangan ako yung kapitan ng mga bata. Kasi pag gumive up ako that time, lahat babagsak na kami so hindi kami aabot ng fifth set,” Paat shared.
“Nakikita ko yung puso na gusto namin manalo. Although ayun nga kinapos, and siguro hindi talaga para samin kasi kailangan pa namin talaga at marami pa kami kailangan iwork out. Bago pa yung mga teammates ko, halos rookie lahat yung mga kasama ko sa loob, and ayon of course kailangan pa namin magsama sama pa in the long run,” she continued.
The Crossovers look to close their Invitational Conference campaign on a high note when they face Choco Mucho in the classification round for 7th place on Saturday at the same Pasig venue. (Ernest Martin Tuazon)
