Chery Tiggo team captain Dindin Santiago-Manabat admitted that the team’s excitement got the better of them during their match against Perlas in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League on Saturday night.
The Crossovers struggled in their Champions League debut. They even trailed by as much as six points in the game-clinching fourth set. Then Perlas’ errors completed the job for them.
“Sa sobrang excitement, hindi agad nagawa ang trabaho namin,” bared Santiago-Manabat, who took over the captainship of the team from her sister. Jaja is currently playing for Saitama in the V.League.
“Sa mga na-training namin in the past few days, may nagawa kami sa sobrang excitement namin, nara-rattle kami.”
But despite the lapses, the reigning Premier Volleyball League champions came out victorious through a four-set, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14, 25-23 win over Perlas.
And as the captain, the 28-year-old had to calm her team down.
“Sabi ko lang no pressure, i-enjoy lang namin yung bawat puntos,” revealed Santiago-Manabat.
Santiago-Manabat recently assumed leadership from sister Jaja Santiago as she continues her journey in the Japan V.League. And she said that the new role feels very challenging for her.
That’s why she could not thank her teammates and coaches enough for helping her ease into her new role.
“Very challenging para sa akin ‘to [leadership role] pero nandito ‘yung mga teammates ko, nandito ‘yung coaches ko para tulungan ako. So madali siya para sa akin kasi nakasuporta sila sa akin,” she said.
Chery Tiggo will next go up against fellow PVL team Petro Gazz next tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
