WHILE it is customary for PVL teams to hold film sessions and prepare scouting reports against opponents, Chery Tiggo’s Jen Nierva goes the extra mile.
READ: Jen Nierva shines on the floor as Chery Tiggo ends PLDT streak
Before a game against erstwhile unbeaten PLDT for example, the Alas Pilipinas libero watched replays of the team's games and took down handwritten notes.
Safe to say, it worked as she had 17 digs and 16 receptions in the Crossovers’ 25-12, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22 victory — their third of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Fresh, new approach
Even if the result hadn’t gone their way, Nierva said she'll stick to her pre-game routine.
“I started my day watching PLDT [games], and I have six pages kung paano sila lalaruin today. That's something new that I did today that really worked,” Nierva said.
“Nakita ko na effective talaga kapag aaralin yung intention mo is to really read the opponent. Mas madali gumalaw inside the court kapag alam mo or kilala mo at alam mo yung galaw ng kalaban.”
Six degrees of (tactical) separation
What exactly were in Nierva’s ‘six pages’ of pre-game notes?
It had the High Speed Hitters’ strengths and weaknesses and included strategy against the PLDT offense led by the likes of Savi Davison and Fiola Ceballos.
“I actually went through their rotations and ‘yung spiking tendencies ni [Savi] Davison, though ang dami kong na-miss pa rin kasi she's very aggressive. Hindi mo talaga rin mababasa,” Nierva said.
“Also kapag si [Fiola] Ceballos, it's like nakita ko kung ano ‘yung gagawin talaga nila inside the court.”
The notes made Nierva more efficient on the court.
“Dahil alam ko na sila, ang dali kong i-lead ‘yung mga teammates ko. Also sa passing, ‘yung mga serves ng kalaban namin ng PLDT. Alam ko na kung saan ‘yung percentage na pupunta yung serves nila.
The Chery Tiggo libero added, “Nire-ready ko na agad kung sino yung katabi ko, kung kanino pupunta yung serve. Mas napagaan, mas napadali yung trabaho ng bawat isa.”
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