PVL: Alina Bicar slowly but surely returning to peak form

Cherry Tiggo Crossovers’ Alina Bicar in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –

MANILA, Philippines — Chery Tiggo coach KungFu Reyes is elated to have fit-again Alina Bicar running his plays but he remains patient with the progress of the returning setter in her comeback from missing the PVL season last year.

Bicar, who sat out after the first conference last year due to a knee injury, continued to regain her rhythm and build a strong connection with the Crossovers as they pulled off a come-from-behind 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13 victory over the Petro Gazz Angels in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday evening at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The veteran setter dished out 19 excellent sets on top of two points as four Crossovers scored in double figures to improve to a 4-2 record, tying the Angels.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

But Reyes, who has been Bicar’s coach since her UAAP days with the University of Santo Tomas, thinks she is still working her way to her peak form.

“Nasa introductory part pa lang siya ng laro niya kung tutuusin. Ang tagal na sit-out, almost a year and a half siguroi. Marami pa siyang aayusin ulit. Simula pa lang siya, pero eto na step by step. Kasi nakakatakbo na, nakaka-dive na, may roll na, dumidipensa, nagse-set na,” said the Chery Tiggo coach.

“More on yung dynamic niya, yun yung kailangan pang i-work out at siyempre yung galaw, kailangan pang i-polish at ma-hone ulit doon sa mas mabibigat na laban. Ang importante, andito na siya sa tabi namin na naglalaro.”

READ: PVL: Alina Bicar ‘captain of the ship’ for Chery Tiggo, says Mylene Paat

Bicar said she’s on her way to rediscovering her lethal playmaking through catching up in Reyes’ training.

“Nagte-training naman po. Nung una talaga sobrang hirap talaga ako kasi syempre nagiba yung mga tao, dumating sila ate Ara [Galang], sila Tyang [Aby Maraño], pero ano dumadaan naman lahat sa training,” she said.

“Wino-work down po namin talaga lahat sa training na kailangan alamin mo rin kung anong gusto ng mga spikers mo. Nagtutulungan lang din po kami.”

Chery Tiggo coach KungFu Reyes, Alina Bicar, and Eya Laure after beating Petro Gazz. #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/0W3Ez5xZX1

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 21, 2024

Bicar credited her teammates for the Crossovers’ second straight win, following their big win over Creamline last Saturday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

“Ang masasabi ko lang is sobrang saya kasi hindi lang isa yung naglaro, lahat kami nagtatrabaho, at gustung-gusto naming manalo. Nag-enjoy lang kami at nagtulungan sa loob ng court,” said the former UST setter. 

“Sa five sets na yun syempre nandoon yung natatalo kami, pero nireregain lang namin ulit yung kung paano kami maglaro kasi wala ring tutulong samin kundi sarili lang din namin. During nung fifth set nag-enjoy lang kami and gusto lang namin manalo. Sayang kasi yung effort din namin, nandun na kami, hindi pa namin iga-grab. So tulong tulong lang din po talaga.”

Chery Tiggo battles Nxled next on Holy Tuesday at Philsports Arena.