Cza Carandang does it all in Chery Tiggo win. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Cza Carandang will receive a new pair of shoes from Mylene Paat after she helped their team captain in leading Chery Tiggo to its second straight win in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Paat and Carandang joined hands in leading the Crossovers’ 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory over the Cignal HD Spikers to seize an early 2-0 league lead on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
After keeping their team unbeaten, Paat bared to the reporters that Carandang will have a new sneaker from her. Prior to the game, the middle blocker tried on their team captain’s shoes and it fits her.
Paat told her younger teammate: “You can have the new pair of shoes if we win.”
The Far Eastern University product stepped up to Paat’s challenge and delivered 14 points built on 12 attacks, an ace, and a block.
But more than getting a new pair of shoes, Carandang’s mindset is to help the team as they seek to rise from back-to-back eighth place finishes in the first two conferences.
“I really want to help my wing spikers. My mindset is to play as a decoy, getting the attention of the opposing team’s blockers, so my hitters won’t have a hard time since the teams are taller this Reinforced,” said Carandang in Filipino. “I didn’t also expect the trust of our setters that helped get a good percentage in attacking.”
Carandang and Paat were energetic in celebrating every point they scored.
“It’s natural for us. Ate My and I really teased each other every time we score a point,” she said.
Chery Tiggo coach Clarence Esteban lauded the on-court antics of the spiker-blocker tandem as they helped the team in easing the pressure of the game.
“It’s a good thing that they enjoy the game and celebrate every point because it eases the tension inside the court. Even me, I also teased my players like Alina (Bicar) and Buding (Duremdes),” Esteban said.
It’s rewarding for Carandang to give her team a good start this season-ending conference and earn herself new sneakers.