A day after the Chery Tiggo franchise officially disbanded, Strong Group Athletics (SGA) moved quickly to secure three of the Crossovers’ standout players.
On Wednesday, SGA officially signed outside hitter Princess Robles, libero Karen Verdeflor, and outside hitter Renee Peñafiel.
“We were both surprised and saddened by Chery Tiggo’s sudden decision to disband their team. It’s always difficult for players to face such unexpected changes, and my heart goes out to them,” said Strong Group volleyball head Kiara Cruz.
“At the same time, we’re thrilled to welcome Princess, Karen, and Renren to our Strong Group family, and we look forward to seeing them shine with us.”
(C) PVL Images
Robles, a high-leaping 5-foot-3 spiker from Iloilo, had been with the Crossovers since 2023 and emerged as one of their most consistent scorers. She amassed 446 total points, built on 407 attacks, 37 blocks, and 22 aces during her stint with Chery Tiggo.
Verdeflor, the ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft from Adamson University, served as the steady backup to Jen Nierva, bringing defensive stability to the squad.
Peñafiel, selected 26th overall in the 2025 draft and a product of UST, has collected 84 points so far in her professional career, tallying 71 attacks, six blocks, and seven aces.
As of Wednesday, Strong Group has yet to decide where to distribute the three new additions, either with ZUS Coffee or Farm Fresh.
