Chery Tiggo’s Pauline Gaston. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Pauline Gaston was glad to finally find a new home at Chery Tiggo in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Gaston made an impressive debut as a Crossover, finishing with eight points and seven excellent receptions from the bench in their 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 25-12 victory over Army-Black Mamba to gain an early 2-0 league lead on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
“I’m home,” said Gaston after her first game with her new team. “We have a lot of trust in each other and ate Mylene [Paat] and coach Aaron [Velez] have a lot of trust in all of the players. If you noticed, anyone can be fielded [into the game]. And that’s the plan, that anyone whose number is called will have to deliver.”
The outside hitter, who was acquired from Choco Mucho in the offseason, had to wait longer to make her debut after she was benched in the Crossovers’ first win over the Cignal HD Spikers on Tuesday.
Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez said they wanted Gaston to get the right timing in making her debut. And it paid off as the former Ateneo Blue Eagle showed good chemistry with her new teammates.
“It’s really all about timing. The coaching staff was able to give them the proper guidance on how to start. Everyone submitted themselves That’s why we got a good result. It’s really a team effort,” Velez said.
Gaston said she “super trusts the process” and the plans of the Chery Tiggo coaches for her.
“I know they have plans for me. Even if I didn’t play in the first game, that might not be the team for me to be fielded and my teammates played really well that game. I know that I’ll have my chance,” said Gaston. “That win in the first game, I felt like, I was part of that even I didn’t play inside the court.”
After making her presence felt in her debut as a Crossover, Gaston vows to always be ready whenever her number gets called.
“Our coaches always tell us to be ready every game. We’re always ready because I feel our team is really a collaborative effort. Not just about one player,” she said.