LOSING their Alas Pilipinas aces Eya Laure and Jen Nierva for the remainder of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference is a big blow in itself for playoff-bound Chery Tiggo.
But there’s one bigger issue head coach Kungfu Reyes and the Crossovers looks to avoid – and hopefully overcome when it happens — health concerns.
For roughly the past two weeks, Chery Tiggo import Khat Bell, who leads the team in scoring and fifth in the league with 164 points (23.4 per game), battled through recurring back pain.
Carrying Chery Tiggo on her back, such pain made sense for the 31-year-old American ace literally and figuratively as she had to skip more than a few training sessions.
“It's been a little bit difficult. Like I said, they've been really good about resting me. I think going into the last match, I think I missed like five days of practice. I was only able to practice the day before the game,” said Bell.
“But again, I know my body. I'm just trying to make sure that I'm 100 percent when the time is right.”
Bell, however, is in no rush to regain peak form and wants her natural physical recovery to run its course.
“Right now, I don't have to be 100 percent. I just need to make sure I'm working on the things I need to work on. But they're just really good about trying to keep me healthy and making sure that I'm ready to go towards the end.”
Injury list getting longer?
Another Crossover star dealing with physical issues is Ara Galang who was sidelined for their penultimate prelims sweep over ZUS Coffee.
As a matter of precaution, Reyes opted to sit Galang out but is overall pleased with what the rest of his attacking unit has shown.
“Si Ara, may slight strain siya sa left rotator cuff, I think sa shoulder niya so pinahinga lang muna namin siya. Hindi na namin siya masyadong (ginamit) sa larong 'to kasi meron pang mga mas importanteng games.
“‘Yung presence niya mas kailangan dun sa mga susunod. This time, naka-focus kami this time kay Ces (Molina), Shaya (Adorador), and (Mary Rhose) Dapol. So sila na muna mag-fill up dun sa position na naiikutan ni Ara. Though nandiyan naman si Mylene (Paat), si Ara, nagre-recover lang nang slight dun sa minor injury niya sa shoulder.
Because as brilliant as Bell is, without an excellent local sport, her exploits will be for naught.
“Ang ano namin sa locals, sila 'yung talagang backbone ng team. 'Pag nag-collapse 'yon, sigurado mahihirapan si Khat alone to deliver. She can handle niya 'yung sarili niya,” he shared.
“Pero 'yung output ng local, du’n magde-determine kung pa'no, kung saan kami pupunta, 'yung team namin.”
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