Summoning a veteran’s poise, Chery Tiggo holds off Capital1
Facing a relatively younger squad, Chery Tiggo should’ve easily come up with an opening game win in the new PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Instead, the Crossovers faced a stern test.
And as the Crossovers searched for new heroes to step in for those who either left their squad or sat on the injured list, an old reliable came to the fore to showcase the team’s character.
“When we reached the fifth set, we said that this is not about skills anymore, we need to fight and show our character,” new coach Norman Miguel, who is coming off a championship run with National University in the UAAP, said following his debut win—a 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 15-11 victory against the hard-fighting Capital1 late Tuesday night at PhilSports Arena.
It was Ara Galang who stepped in for the undermanned Chery squad.
The former La Salle star said the team was left with no choice but to cover lost ground after releasing sisters Eya and EJ Laure and Buding Duremdes in the offseason and with regular rotation players Jen Nierva, Mylene Paat, Jas Nabor and Imee Hernandez still out of commission.
“That’s how it is—there are those who will leave, and there are those who will come in,” Galang said. “What’s important is we have to jell and work together.”
Upset hopes
Galang fired 23 points to help fight off a Capital1 squad that battled hard to prove they could win without Russian scoring machine Marina Tushova, the team’s import in the previous Reinforced Conference whose prowess on offense gifted the Solar Spikers a surprise quarterfinal appearance.
With unheralded standouts like Patty Orendain and spunky rookie Leila Cruz leading the way, Capital1 stunned Chery Tiggo in the first set and then took a 2-1 lead in the match to fire up hopes of an upset.
“In the early phase of the game, obviously [the Crossovers] weren’t connected, they were still all-around the place,” Miguel said. “We told them to just move the way they usually do and not over anticipate and get overly excited.”
“Because it’s a huge thing when you’re in control of your emotions and your mind is in the game. You have the advantage in that position and it wasn’t present to them yet, they seem disorganized still but thankfully they recollected themselves,” he added.
Cruz provided Capital1 with a glimpse of how she can change the franchise’s fortunes, finishing with 20 points, including five off blocks.
And the Solar Spikers certainly caught the Crossovers’ attention.
“We were letting Capital1 take charge, when we were supposed to be the ones setting the tone and pace,” Galang said.
“It’s good that we were helping each other and not only relying on just one person. It’s good to have a collective effort and we like what we are doing now,” she added.
