Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes believes that the absence of stars Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference is a ‘positive challenge’ for the Crossovers.
Laure and Nierva were called up by Alas Pilipinas for the national team window, during which the Nationals will head to Japan for a training camp and subsequently participate in the SEA V-League next month.
They are expected to miss most, if not all, of the Reinforced Conference.
Reyes expressed confidence that the remaining players can step up to fill the gaps left by Laure and Nierva.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“From day one naman ng training lagi naman silang nandiyan so yung shuffle ng team, yung every rotation, lahat naman ng ginagawa namin is para sa lahat, especially sa mga wing spikers kasi ang dami nila,” said the veteran head coach.
“That’s a good problem for us. Again, itong nangyayari na ‘to sa laro, ito yung pina-practice lang din namin. So yung adjustment, little adjustment, mas madali para sa amin.”
The Crossovers demonstrated this in their debut game, with players like Mary Rhose Dapol, Seth Rodriguez, Pauline Gaston, and rookie Karen Verdeflor stepping up and contributing to the team’s victory over Farm Fresh on Tuesday night.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
Dapol, a special guest player last year with Foton whose rights were retained by Chery Tiggo, started the game and finished with eight points—the second highest on the team after American import Khat Bell, who scored 23 points in the victory.
Rodriguez and Gaston each contributed five points, while Verdeflor, who shared libero duties with Buding Duremdes, made four excellent receptions.
“Mostly, lumabas kung ano yung tini-train namin. We worked as one, especially with the leadership of Khat [Bell] din. All we needed to do was to ring the bell, that’s all we needed to do,” said Reyes.
“Hindi kami naka-focus sa pagbabalik nila [Laure and Nierva], we’re focusing kung anong meron kami sa loob especially itong core na ‘to.”
