Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Amid heavy criticisms, Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez is embracing the “experimental coach” tag as it has been working so far for the Crossovers in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Since the 2021 bubble tournament in Ilocos Norte, Velez has been drawing flak on social media due to his player rotation. He proved his doubters wrong after his team led by sisters Jaja and Dindin Santiago earned the first professional volleyball title in the country.
But Velez found himself under fire again after the Crossovers failed to defend their crown in the Open Conference last year where they finished eighth.
Velez admitted he saw the comments and tweets, calling him an “experimental coach.”
But he couldn’t care any less, sticking to his strategy, which has been working so far with Chery Tiggo cruising to a 3-0 record highlighted by a statement victory over F2 Logistics.
“Pangatawanan na po natin,” said the returning coach, who also works as team manager. “Di ba nga nabansagan akong experimental coach so ang akin na lang din naman, let’s embrace it. Kung meron naman akong ganun, kailangan lang i-filter.”
(Since people are calling me as an experimental coach, let’s embrace it. If I have that [label], I just need to filter it.)
The former College of Saint Benilde spiker said their team has a great collaboration between coaches and players, who trust him and allow him to be himself in calling the shots for the Crossovers.
“My coaching staff is there to always remind me if I’m doing the right thing. I’m also happy that my players are allowing me to be myself. Aside from being always ready, they are willing to submit each other to our game plan and we stick by it,” Velez said in Filipino.
Mylene Paat has been leading the way in scoring for Chery Tiggo with Alina Bicar providing the brilliant plays, and libero Buding Duremdes protecting the floor. The Crossovers have also drawn ample contributions from Shaya Adorador, EJ Laure, and Cza Carandang as well as Pauline Gaston, who provided the spark off the bench against Army last week.
Velez was pleased that his wards are working as one unit and making sacrifices together in their bid to redeem themselves in the All-Filipino. Although he stressed that they have to be more consistent and cannot be complacent as Chery Tiggo guns for its fourth win against PLDT on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
“I keep on reminding everyone that we’re always good as our last game. So we have just to keep on learning,” he said.
Like what he learned from their historic title run in Bacarra two years ago, Velez will keep on looking at the brighter side and focus on his team despite the criticisms.
“Based on my experience in [Ilocos Norte], there are two sides of the story. I will just cherish everything because in any unpleasant situation, we just have to look at the brighter side of it and from there we should have a good perspective also,” Velez said.