Ara Galang and Aby Maraño are welcomed by Chery Tiggo coaches. –HANDOUT PHOTO
Chery Tiggo just signed up the experience and spunk to go with its promising, youthful nucleus as the Crossovers try to at least land a medal in the coming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
The Crossovers snagged Ara Galang and the charismatic Aby Maraño from the disbanded F2 Logistics sweepstakes, with management making the grand announcement on Tuesday as Chery Tiggo boosted its stock by acquiring pieces that could guide its young core led by Eya Laure.
Galang and Maraño will be playing for a different team—and a different coach than Ramil de Jesus—for the first time in their professional lives, and the duo is excited at the opportunity to contribute.
“[The fans have] known me as a player with a very big heart. Very passionate, vocal and a leader, so I want them to expect that from me,” said Maraño as she steps in to combine with another floor leader in fellow veteran Mylene Paat. “I will bring all of that going to Chery Tiggo.”
Maraño has had several tours of duty with the national team and is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws in the league even if she is nearing the twilight of a career that first saw birth at La Salle in the UAAP under De Jesus.
“I am excited to be working with some of (the veteran Crossover) players, some of them I have had the privilege of playing together in the national team,” Maraño added as she comes in with the know-how of decades of play.
Maraño and Galang have won titles with De Jesus in the defunct Philippine SuperLiga, but at F2, never reached the podium since the PVL saw birth in 2021.“I hope we can at least reach the podium in the next conferences, because every member of Chery wants a taste of a medal and we are willing to improve,” Eya previously said after coming in as a rookie last season and assuming the role of the team’s top gun.
Surprise fold-up
Galang, meanwhile, provides a solid presence on both ends. She also has a wealth of experience that can fast-track the development of the other young guns on the team like EJ Laure, Cess Robles, Jennifer Nierva and Jasmine Nabor.
“I am just very thankful to have this opportunity,” Galang said during their introduction as the new Crossovers aces.
Chery Tiggo started strong in the season-ending conference before losing critical matches at the end of the eliminations. The Crossovers lost back-to-back to powerhouses and eventual finalists Choco Mucho and Creamline, to bow out.
The Crossovers reached the semifinals before being swept by the Cool Smashers. They bowed to Cignal in the battle for the bronze.
F2 Logistics announced its surprise disbandment a couple of weeks ago as the rest of the field have started wild and woolly chases for the former Cargo Movers aces.
Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin had also told the Inquirer that they are in the process of talking to some of the players as the Flying Titans, who finished second to Creamline in the recent All-Filipino, will try to go all the way this season.
But for now, it seems that Chery Tiggo pushed all the right buttons with Galang and Maraño sure to help the team—and its current stars, become better players.