LONG DRIVE
Shaya Adorador sees the value of the play-in phase that the Chery Tiggo Crossovers were forced into in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
It became a necessary rehearsal for what lies ahead.
“Our past two games before the quarters were important. It tested our character, how we work together as a team and the individual skills of each player that we can bring into the next round,” said Adorador.
The next round will be tough.
A four-set demolition of the Farm Fresh Foxies, 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, on Tuesday evening, sent the Crossovers straight into the path of defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers, who will be well-rested for the best-of-three quarterfinals.
The long route it took to get to that showdown didn’t just sharpen Chery Tiggo physically. It might have made the team bolder as well, going by a defiant Ara Galang refusing to buy into the underdog role of the Crossovers.
Resolve
“Everything will be on equal footing. Although they [Cool Smashers] are the champions, the previous standings don’t count anymore,” said Galang after delivering 20 points, built on 16 attacks, plus three blocks and an ace.
“We’re sure [things] will work out [for us] as long as we don’t give up on each other and continue helping one another,” added the former La Salle ace, who feels the extra matches against the Chameleons and the Foxies fortified the team’s resolve.
“We saw the strength of our team in dealing with those situations. We were tested, but everyone wanted to win and play in the quarterfinals,” said Galang.
That resolve showed on Tuesday.
After an extended first set that the Crossovers secured, the Foxies seized control and leveled the count in the next frame by riding on Trisha Tubu’s power at the net.
At that point, the tide shifted toward the Foxies’ turf. But the Crossovers responded accordingly. Middle blockers Seth Rodriguez and Aby Maraño provided ample net coverage, allowing Chery Tiggo to regain control.
It will take a similar effort to take down Creamline.
“We should double our efforts in practice if we want to compete against them [Cool Smashers],” said Galang.
“We have to carry this killer instinct to the quarterfinals,” added Adorador.
