With Chery Tiggo’s title defense hanging in the balance, Mylene Paat made sure to deliver for the Crossovers in its do-or-die match against Black Mamba-Army on Tuesday night.
Paat — the reigning Best Scorer of the Volleyball Thailand League — took over the match, dropping a game-high 20 points built on 14 attacks, four blocks, and two aces to go along with nine excellent digs in the 25-22, 25-17, 25-19 win over the Lady Troopers.
The victory saved the defending champions — who dropped its first three games of the tournament — from elimination.
According to Paat, the communication between the players and the coaches played a pivotal part in the win. She also hopes that the team can sustain this kind of communication moving forward.
“Galing kami sa mga talo. Kailangan talaga namin yung communication namin inside the court. Yung communication namin ng mga coaches and players,” said Paat.
“So nandun, lumabas lahat ngayon sa pinaka importanteng game kasi hindi naman dapat pabayaan ‘tong game na to kasi malalaglag na kami. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy yung communication namin and jelling inside court,” she added.
Paat also revealed that the team already felt immense pressure prior to the match.
Moreover, she’s just proud to see the team overcome the pressure and deliver in the most crucial times.
“Actually, some of us, oo nandoon yung pressure. Pero iniisip na lang namin na mag enjoy sa court and kalmahan lang para maging soft lang yung galaw,” shared Paat.
“Sobrang thankful din kasi ako nag tulong tulong yung team namin sa receive, sa service, sa set, sa palo, sa depensa, lahat nag tulong tulong. Kanina pa lang sa dug out, lahat na, lahat ng gamit, tulong tulong, lahat lahat. Doon mo makikita talaga yung eagerness ng bawat isa na manalo,” the national team mainstay added.
With the team’s playoff return still uncertain, Paat vowed that the team will continue to work on their weaknesses as they prepare for the quarterfinals.
For the Crossovers to enter the final eight, Army must lose its match against Cignal on Thursday. This will put Chery Tiggo at the number four spot in Pool A.
“Of course, kailangan talaga namin mag training pa. Hanggat maaari yung mga weakness namin, i-train namin. Kung saan kami magiging effective, yun yung iwowork out namin. Yung mga weakness namin, i-wowork out namin.”
