Chery Tigo coach Aaron Velez. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Coach Aaron Velez is decided to slay the ghost of his previous as he vows to not waste the second probability given by Chery Tiggo within the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Convention.
From steering the Crossovers to their first PVL championship within the 2021 Open Convention Ilocos Norte bubble, Velez did not defend their throne and fell to eighth place in final 12 months’s season-opening match.
After an underwhelming end, Velez was given a unique position as a group supervisor and was changed by coach Clarence Esteban. However two conferences later, the previous was reinstated as head coach and he has no plans of disappointing the administration once more.
“[Gagamitin ko] yung learnings ko from my expertise within the [Open] Convention final 12 months. Merong multong kailangan labanan. However on the identical time masaya ko naman masasabi na I’m engaged on it and sa tulong ng group, I believe, magagampanan ko naman ‘yung trabaho,” mentioned the returning coach in a video convention with reporters.
(I’ll use my learnings from my expertise within the Open Convention final 12 months. There’s a ghost that I’ve to slay however on the identical time, I’m pleased that I’m engaged on it with the assistance of my group and I believe I will fulfill my responsibility, this time.)
With the franchise giving him two roles, Velez, who can also be serving as group supervisor, admitted that the group has excessive expectations however the stress he’s feeling solely fuels him to do higher.
“In fact, they count on me to showcase what I can do as a coach. Additionally, their belief and confidence in me to deal with the 2 roles given to me, which is to be the group supervisor and the top coach,” Velez mentioned in Filipino. “It’s actually a blessing that they’ll see and so they respect my functionality and the way I can absolutely put into work and motion.”
“I don’t wish to let the administration down with their belief and perception that I can nonetheless redeem myself,” he added.
Chery Tiggo, led by MVP Mylene Paat, ended a two-tournament semifinal drought within the 2022 Bolstered Convention below Esteban, who turned them right into a defensive group with Finest Libero Buding Duremdes, their spikers, and even import Jelena Cvijovic displaying super flooring protection in addition to center blockers Cza Carandang and Roselle Baliton caring for the entrance line.
Though the Crossovers returned to the semis, they yielded all their matches within the spherical, wounding up in fourth place of the season-ending convention.
Velez believes the group must concentrate on offense to surpass their earlier end and regain their misplaced glory within the All-Filipino, which begins on February 4 at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
“The problem now’s to start out robust and maintain that momentum till the top. We now have confirmed that we obtained defensive abilities. However this time, I need them to find their capabilities offensively,” mentioned the longtime Chery Tiggo coach, who has been with the group since 2018. “Final convention, our group was all about protection. We lacked offensive firepower. If we will execute higher offense, I believe we are going to get higher outcomes.”
Chery Tiggo opens its marketing campaign in opposition to Bolstered Convention runner-up Cignal on February 7 at Philsports Area, starting life with out Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who transferred to Akari.
Shedding Manabat, who has been with the group for the previous six years, was a giant blow for the Crossovers. However Velez challenges their holdovers Paat, Shaya Adorador, EJ Laure, France Ronquillo, and Might Luna in addition to newcomer, Pauline Gaston to step up.
“In fact, who doesn’t need Dindin Santiago on their group? She’s a one-of-a-kind spiker, who can create her personal offense for a group,” the coach mentioned. “However due to sure causes, it’s extra of a problem for the opposite gamers as they may have alternatives to construct their very own positions first and their names.”
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