After two confidence-boosting victories in PVL on Tour, Chery Tiggo head coach Norman Miguel asking his players to stay motivated.
The Chery Tiggo Crossovers are headed in the right direction in the ongoing PVL preseason as they registered two wins over the weekend — including one over contender team Akari in a five-set thriller in Montalban on Sunday night.
For head coach Norman Miguel, who took over the role of head coach just last conference, it was a sign that the team is already buying into his system.
After finishing sixth in the final standings of the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, Miguel believed that it was simply a case of birth pains for the new style that he wanted to implement.
[READ:
Chery Tiggo repulses Akari in five sets for perfect PVL on Tour start]
“Talagang ang laki ng adjustment [ng team]. Pero simula nung nag-traning na kami, nag-one week break lang muna kami [after the conference], nakita ko rin naman 'yung character nila na kung i-adopt yung sistema ko and nakita ko rin na nagkaroon na ng lalim pa 'yung mismong players as a team and as an individual,” Miguel said.
Not one to toot his own horn, the mentor deflected credit to his players — both the newly minted rookies and his veteran leaders that have done well to integrate the newer players into the Chery Tiggo system.
As evidenced in big games from both Jyne Soreño and Renee Peñafiel, the wheels have turned for the Crossovers.
“Malaking bagay din kasi 'yung tulong ng mga seniors sa pagsupporta sa system namin ng coaches tapos kung paano nila i-guide 'yung mga teammates nila. Malaking bagay 'yun, especially 'yung captainship ni Tyang Aby [Maraño]. Kasi everybody’s looking up to her kasi nakakatulong talaga sa akin 'yung guidance niya. Masaya ako,” he said.
But make no mistake, Miguel is far from satisfied — especially as Chery Tiggo’s PVL on Tour campaign has just begun.
In the coming weeks, the team faces a tall task when they face a pair of tough games against Cignal and Creamline in Passi City, Iloilo on July 19 and July 20, respectively. Buoyed by their two wins, Miguel wants them to continue being hungry for the win.
“Siyempre, 'di ka naman pwede mag-stop dun [sa mga panalo]. Gusto ko pa ma-solidify pa 'yung character ba na buong buo ka na uhaw manalo, meron gustong patunayan, meron gustong ma-reach na goal na alam kong kaya naman nila kasi lahat naman sila galing sa mga champion teams eh. Alam na nila kung ano 'yung dapat gawin eh. Alam na nila 'yung pakiramdam kung paano gawin 'yun,” he said.
As for their games against Cignal and Creamline, Miguel said that they are coming to it with a renewed sense of confidence and at the same time, continue to have the underdog mindset against the powerhouse teams.
“'Yun nga. Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, itong dalawang games na nanalo kami talagang big boost sa kanilang morale, sa kumpiyansa nila. Pero 'yun din, just the same, gusto ko parin 'yung maging hungry pa rin sa continuous na panalo,” he said.
“Mag-exert parin [kami] ng effort sa training, mag-set pa rin ng goal, mag-set ng direction pa rin para 'pag hinarap na namin 'yung mga teams na alam naman naming mga malalakas talaga, I think magiging ready kami for that,” he added.
The Crossovers are currently touting a 2-0 record in Pool B — good enough for third in the standings.