HAS Risa Sato found her new home in the PVL?
A Chery Tiggo group photo circulating on social media shows Sato joining the rest of the Crossovers in what appears to be a team lunch amid their holiday break.
The 12-time PVL champion and the league’s most decorated player parted ways with Creamline after completing the Grand Slam, just days before the season-opening All-Filipino Conference began in November.
READ: Creamline's 'best year yet' wasn't all sunshine and rainbows
Sato’s surprise departure from the Cool Smashers was prompted by her request for an early termination of her contract that expired at the end of 2024.
Chery Tiggo is yet to confirm Sato's inclusion as of posting time.
Sato-san's championship pedigree
In six years as a Cool Smasher, the 30-year-old Filipino-Japanese middle blocker was part of all of Creamline’s 10 titles.
But it was in her previous PVL stints with Balipure and National University in which she set a one-of-a-kind league feat: an "individual Grand Slam."
Sato is the only player to win a hat-trick of best middle blocker awards in a single season back in the league’s inaugural edition in 2017.
A proven serial winner, Sato would be a much-needed piece to bolster the Crossovers’ defense along with the likes of veteran blockers in captain Aby Maraño, Cza Carandang, Seth Rodriguez and an on-the-mend Imee Hernandez.
Chery Tiggo currently sits fourth in the league with a 4-2 record and will return to action on Jan. 21 against league-leading rival Petro Gazz.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
