Mylene Paat leads rebranded Chery Tiggo in PSL

Foton Tornadoes will now be called Chery Tiggo Crossovers starting in PSL Grand Prix. INQUIRER PHOTO/MARC REYES

MANILA, Philippines–In every sense of the word, she will be filling in the big shoes of sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat.

So yes, Mylene Paat is feeling the pressure of being at the front and center of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

The high-impact opposite spiker for the national team said she’s confident her teammates will step up as the former Foton Tornadoes try to end a four-year title drought.

“I believe this is not just a one-player team, so I’m confident we will do it as a team,” said Paat Wednesday during a launch. “But yes I feel pressure on my part to perform to the best of ability.”

The lefty Pangasinan native, who was instrumental in Cignal’s resurgence last season, will have to man the fort while Santiago and Manabat are competing as imports in the tough Japan-League.

The Tiggo Crossovers also announced the acquisition of five more players namely Jasmine Nabor, Rachel Austero, Janine Navarro, Joy Dacoron and Ria Duremdes.

They will play with mainstays Eya Laure, EJ Laure, Jen Reyes, Justine Dorog, Elaine Kasila and Marian Buitre.

“Definitely we have a deeper bench compared to last year,” said Chery head coach Aaron Velez. “As for chemistry it’s a work in progress but we learn a lot every day and we are now fiercer, stronger and more competitive now.”

The Philippine Superliga Grand Prix will run from February to June. Santiago and Manabat, according to Velez, are likely to re-join the team by May.

Velez said they will announce their import for the GP in the coming weeks.