Chery Tiggo import Jelena Cvijovic. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Chery Tiggo’s Montenegrin outside hitter Jelena Cvijovic may not be as offensively explosive as the other imports but her stellar floor defense has been vital to her team’s five straight wins in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Cvijovic, the No.8 top scorer with a total of 63 points tied with her teammate Cza Carandang, said she’s not thinking of scoring a lot for the Crossovers every game as her only focus is to do the things that will help her team win games.
“I’m happy and I feel good in this team. So I don’t want to think about scoring, about points. I don’t want to be selfish that way and put some pressure on myself,” said the do-it-all spiker, who is also the No.10 best receiver with 39.58 percent efficiency. “I’m trying and I will do my best point by point and I believe in God how it will go, it will go. So I just feel good in Chery Tiggo that’s all.”
“I’m trying really. I’m pushing to help the team so that’s it. I think it’s good and I think it’s a big success for all of us, five games in a row to win. It’s not easy to make it,” she added.
The 30-year-old displayed her two-way game anew as Chery Tiggo’s clinched a semifinals berth, finishing with19 points and 19 excellent receptions to go with the crucial digs that kept her team afloat in the fifth set in the 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-18, 15-12 victory over the winless United Auctioneers Inc.-Army on Thursday.
GOOD LEADER
Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat reacts during a game against Choco Mucho in the PVL Reinforced Conference. PVL PHOTO
The Crossovers’ unbeaten streak has been fueled by Mylene Paat, who emerged as the top local and tournament’s No.4 scorer with 102 points and top spiker with a 39.83 percent attack rate.
More than the scoring, Cvijovic credited their early success to Paat’s leadership, which keeps them together.
“She’s really good, a leader. She’s pushing a lot. It’s really good to play with her and also other players,” she said.
For Chery Tiggo coach Clarence Esteban, who needs an explosive import if the Montenegro national team standout, who once played as a libero for two games in an international tournament, makes a huge impact through her excellent defense?
“That’s what I’m looking for Jelena. Her defense. I always tell her I need your defense, I need your receive. At least she brings a huge help on the defensive end. Since the league started you can see that her passing is really excellent,” said Esteban in Filipino.
Although they already assured a berth to the next round, Cvijovic vows to make the most of their long break before facing Creamline, which is composed of hard-hitting players like Yeliz Basa, Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos, on November 5 at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
“It will be a tough game for sure. Creamline is a good team so we have to prepare. We have more days now between the games so we have to rest well and then we can make some analysis and have a good game again, I hope so,” she said.