EYA Laure’s departure created a domino effect of changes within the Chery Tiggo camp just before the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Crossovers lost two more of its veteran mainstays in EJ Laure and Buding Duremdes, but would welcome a new head coach in UAAP champion Norman Miguel.
With a promising 4-2 record, good for solo fourth to end 2024, Chery Tiggo acknowledges that the next few months will be integral to its ongoing rebuild.
READ: Chery Tiggo completes comeback vs. Galeries in five-set thriller
Best believe they’re more than up for the challenge.
“Trust the process lang talaga kasi nga this is a rebuilding [stage], Naniniwala lang ako sa process, naniniwala ako sa coaches, and naniniwala ako sa teammates ko na lalabas at lalabas ‘yung sinasabi ni coach Norman na connection, jive and chemistry,” Crossovers ace Pauline Gaston said.
“At the end of the day, kahit nandu’n ‘yung skills, dapat nandu’n din ‘yung character. I know that 2024 was also a challenge of our character, so hopefully, mas lumabas pa kung sino man kaming Chery Tiggo in 2025.”
Miguel knew for a fact that his first pro league coaching stint won’t be a cakewalk by any means after the changes that went the team’s way.
Admittedly, it’s been a proper headache for him and the coaching staff but one that he fully welcomes.
“Maski kaming coaches, ang sakit sa ulo namin. Parang lahat na ng equations sa mathematics, 'sino ba ilalagay natin?' Pero ganun talaga ang team, ganun talaga sa coaching. Gagawa ka talaga ng mga balasa mo, kung sino magiging effective,” the new Chery Tiggo mentor said.
“Itong week na ito talaga, meron talaga kami naging changes sa line-up namin sa starting six kaya bakahindi pa rin talaga sila nagja-jive. Pero ‘yun pa rin ang essence. Kung sino yung hindi magko-connect, pasok mo ‘yung magko-connect para makakagawa ng magandang resulta.”
With four more months ahead, Miguel and the rest of the Crossovers are letting bygones be bygones as they devote all of their energy on who’s there than who’s not.
“Regardless kung sino naman ang performing, team naman lahat tayo. Mag-fail, maging successful, sama-sama pa rin kami.”
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