F2 Logistics’ Aby Maraño.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Aby Maraño vows to leave everything on the floor as she makes her first appearance as a Chery Tiggo Crossover in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
It opening of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) may be 17 days away but Maraño said the Crossovers will not play safe in the week-long PNVF tournament as they seek to win the championship and make the most of their first tournament together to improve the team’s cohesion.
“I guess in the first place, we’re not trained to play safe,” said Maraño in Filipino on Friday in the press conference at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference room. “Because we’ve been working hard in practice. I believe one of my principles as an athlete is you have to give your all in practice so it will be easier during games.”
“We’re excited to start the year with a bang. This is our first league for the year 2024 so we want to start the year with good intentions in every game that we’re going to play,” she added.
Maraño and longtime teammate Ara Galang transferred to Chery Tiggo after F2 Logistics, which ruled the inaugural Champions League in 2021, disbanded last December.
The 31-year-old middle blocker didn’t have a hard time adjusting to her new teammates including her best friend Mylene Paat and young guns Eya Laure, Cess Robles, Joyme Cagande, and Jennifer Nierva.
“It wasn’t really hard for me to adjust with the team because first of all, I was able to play with half of the team in the past already for the national team and I was able to represent this team back in 2016 for some international competition,” said the former La Salle star, who represented Foton in the AVC Club Championship in 2016.
“The adjustment was quick because I am familiar with the players and coaching staff, who are very welcoming. And the younger players were kind and very respectful, they made it easier for me.”
Chery Tiggo opens its PNVF campaign against Cignal, which will parade former F2 libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Jovelyn Fernandez, at 6 p.m. after the match between Petro Gazz and Philippine Army at 3:30 p.m.
Two-time NCAA defending champion College of Saint Benilde is also part of the tournament, opening its PNVF title-retention bid against Petro Gazz on Monday.
The Top 4 teams of the single-round elimination will advance to the knockout semis.
Maraño is also looking forward to learning from their fellow PVL teams and NCAA players from St. Benilde.
“And of course, we want to learn from the young ones although we’re already playing in the professional in the past. But these young players have high potential and they will put up a good fight in the PNVF,” she said.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Cignal HD is favored in the eight-team men’s contest that starts on February 11.
With Cignal HD in Pool A are PGJC Philippine Navy, Savouge Spin Doctors, and Saint Benilde while VNS Asereht Griffins, Iloilo D’Navigators, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Army are in Pool B.