CHERY Tiggo star and former Premier Volleyball League MVP Mylene Paat is set to join some of Asia's top women's volleyball players in the upcoming tryouts for the 2024 Korean V-League (KVL) Women's Asian Quota Draft.
Paat will be joined by fellow PVL aces Tots Carlos and MJ Phillips at the Halla Gymnasium and Sun Hotel in Jeju, South Korea in the April 29 to May 1 event that will give the KVL's seven teams a closer look at prospective Asian imports for the new season.
READ: Tots, Paat, MJ to test luck in 2024 Korean V-League Asian Quota Draft
Crossovers head coach Kungfu Reyes took pride in what could be another feather in the cap of Paat, who is no stranger to the international volleyball scene following her one-year stint with Thailand's winningest club Nakhon Ratchasima VC in the 2021-22 season where she emerged as the tournament's best scorer.
Reyes said he has not spoken to Paat about her career plans, but stressed his unwavering support for whatever path she'll take moving forward.
"'Di ko pa natatanong si Mylene (about sa Korea plans niya) pero qualified naman sila. So, additional feather sa cap nila kung (ma-draft sila), it’s national pride, kung ano man ang plano nila. Pero so far, wala pa naman kaming napag-uusapan," he said.
"Siguro lumalabas lang 'yung mga pangalan nu'ng previous two years ata, 'yung plano na 'yan (na magpa-draft sa Korea). Personally, wala pang sinasabi si Mylene sa'kin about that [pero] masaya kami kung anuman ang magiging decision niya," said the Chery Tiggo added.
Control of their own fate
Paat pitched in five markers off the bench in Chery Tiggo's straight-sets win over PLDT to bolster its semifinals bid.
Reyes expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of both the starting lineup and the second stringers, highlighting the collective effort across the board. He commended the team's cohesion as the Crossovers continue their impressive unbeaten run of five games, leading the league standings with just two matches remaining in the elimination round.
"Collective effort talaga 'yung kung paano kami nanalo (ngayon versus PLDT). Lahat ginagawa kung ano 'yung trabaho nila. Isa (ito) sa mga pinaka-magagandang nangyayari. Nagkakamali, slow start, pero eventually, na-rerecover namin kung anong meron kami.
"'Yun ang pinaka-magandang nangyayari sa ngayon kasi kung ano 'yung in-eensayo namin, nag-rereflect kung paano kami maglaro. Pero 'yung dedication ng mga players kasi, sila talaga ang gumagana diyan. Sila ang nagta-trabaho ng lahat," Reyes said.
He added that they will focus on what they can control, which is their performance and strategy during games, prioritizing their game plan instead of worring about their opponents' actions.
"Ang importante rin talaga, 'yung work ethics ng mga tao namin na nag-mamanifest during games. Basta du'n lang kami within our circle (naka-focus at hindi sa mga kalaban)," he concluded.
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