Chery Tiggo’s Cess Robles (proper).–PVL PHOTO
Pushed by its rising stars, Chery Tiggo navigated its All-Filipino Convention with relative success.
And as early as her second convention, Cess Robles realized that the Premier Volleyball League, which is crammed with the most effective skills that the nation has, is just not for the faint of coronary heart.
“Matira matibay talaga (Solely the sturdy survive). I imply, whoever desires to essentially win are those to whom the Lord provides what they need,” Robles instructed the Inquirer.
Chery Tiggo cruised to a powerful begin within the season-ending convention, save for a meltdown in opposition to Akari, earlier than a string of unlucky occasions towards the tip of the eliminations stalled its rise. The Crossovers misplaced to eventual Finals contenders Choco Mucho and Creamline heading into the playoffs.
The Crossovers superior to the semifinals with an 8-3 (win-loss) standing however was unable to get its mojo again as they had been swept by the highest seeded Cool Smashers and once more by Cignal within the bronze medal sequence.
‘Newcomers’
However these losses to extra established crews weren’t one thing to be ashamed of—even coach KungFu Reyes knew that. And for Robles, the hiccup gave the group one thing to purpose for.
“Possibly it’s as a result of we got here in later, we had a bunch of newcomers within the group whereas the opposite groups have been right here for therefore lengthy,” Robles mentioned.
“That’s what we wish: To have a extra intact bond. That’s vital.”
These newcomers included Robles and her Nationwide College teammates, libero Jen Nierva and setter Joyme Cagande, together with former queen Tigress Eya Laure and center blocker Imee Hernandez—all of whom began bolstering Chery Tiggo within the earlier Invitational Convention the place the Crossovers had a forgettable stint after ending on the eighth spot.
“[The All-Filipino Conference] was significantly better in comparison with the final convention. Our first convention was our baseline for the place we had been,” the surface hitter mentioned. “I’m nonetheless not glad with what I’m exhibiting contained in the court docket … nevertheless it’s a course of, I must have an enchancment in coaching, particularly in video games,” the 24-year-old Robles mentioned. “There’s nonetheless one thing missing in our group, however we’re near what we’re working for.”
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