Yunieska Batista couldn’t hide her relief after Chery Tiggo finally broke through in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
But beyond the win, what mattered more to the Cuban-Kazakh import was how the team learned and grew from its early struggles — a reminder, she said, that they’re only human.
“Thank you. Of course, it’s really good to finally win,” Batista said after the Crossovers’ straight-sets victory over Galeries Tower. “We were struggling in the first three games. Things didn’t go our way, but we just kept working and believing in what our coaches say. We still have a chance to make a run in the competition.”
Batista admitted that the team’s three consecutive losses to start the tournament tested their morale. But instead of dwelling on frustration, she chose to focus on growth.
“I think Chery Tiggo is an amazing team. They’re fighters,” she said. “When I go to the court, they give me this vibe to keep fighting and working.”
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Batista finished with 20 points in the win.
“When you lose a game, you just have to learn from it — it’s okay, we’re not superhumans, we’re just humans. We try to learn from it and give our best to do better next time.”
For Batista, that mindset has been crucial in navigating the ups and downs of the tournament.
“We need to learn from our mistakes,” she added. “Every game, you need to see the positive side because you can share that with your teammates.”
And as Chery Tiggo finally turned its effort into a win, Batista made it clear that her approach will remain the same moving forward.
“Every game is different, every game is tough. I respect every opponent,” she said.
“As a player, I just follow what the coach says. I trust them, I trust our culture — and that’s it. We go to fight.”
