EXPECT a photo finish in the race to the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
After a shaky start to their campaign, the revamped Chery Tiggo Crossovers have now hit full throttle as they ride on a four-game unbeaten run with three matches to go in the elimination round.
Such a timely run of good form was ignited by a streak-busting win against defending champion Creamline - its first PVL defeat after 19 successive wins.
READ: Chery Tiggo zeroes in on Final Four spot after big win over Cignal
Although Chery Tiggo still trails Creamline in the standings by one match point with an equal 6-2 (win-loss) card, there have been plenty of positives which the Crossovers will be banking on come the home stretch and possibly in the semifinals.
Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes and ace spiker Eya Laure dived deep into the foundations of the team's recent string of stellar performances: teamwork, chemistry and trust in such an ecletic mix of ace newcomers led by Ara Galang and Aby Maraño, and star mainstays in Eya Laure, EJ Laure and Mylene Paat among many others.
"Malaking bagay talaga na nagtutulungan. May bumibitaw pero may hihila pabalik, lalo na 'pag pa-dulo na 'yung game, 'yung set, na may nagreremind sa'min kung ano 'yung mga dapat pa naming gawin, dapat resolbahin.
"May mga malalaking factor kasi na kung titingnan minsan maliit lang, tap sa kakampi 'pag may error (at sasabihing) 'Okay lang.' Hhindi bababa 'yung morale mo na 'Okay magkamali ako, pero meron pa rin naman akong kakampi na nagtitiwala pa rin sa'kin and of course 'yung mga coaches din," Laure said.
Reyes added: "Number one dito 'yung iparealize sa players, sa buong team 'yung essence ng teamwork at ng chemistry. Hindi lang isang araw namin tinatrabaho 'yun kundi araw-araw naming winowork out. Sa kalibre naman ng players namin, 'yun ang kailangan naming i-enhance pa.
"'Yyng blending at chemistry, ito na, medyo nararamdaman na nila. malaking bagay na nagrereflect na yung mga pinag-eensayuhan namin."
Crossovers hit turning point
From one big sweep over Creamline to another big sweep against Cignal, Reyes believes that his Chery Tiggo side has reached a much-needed turning point en route to what could be a fourth PVL semifinals appearance for the country's first-ever pro league champions.
"Every game is a turning point para sa'min. Either it will turn to good or turn down. Ganun ang nagiging motivation namin at siyempre, pipiliin namin dun sa paakyat. May mga wake-up call nang nangyari so hanggang ngayon, tinatrabaho pa rin namin what went wrong sa previous losses namin," said Reyes.
"6-2 (record) na. Ngayon, ine-aim namin na at least makapsok sa semifinals, that's the big picture. Pero one game at a time muna kasi mahaba pa tatakbuhin ng liga at may mga top teams pa kaming 'di nakakalaban. Itong (panalo versus Cignal) 'yung isa sa pinaka-turning point namin papunta sa big picture na gusto naming mangyari."
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