Chery Tiggo fueled its drive for the Premier Volleyball League mid-season tournament by acquiring young and energetic reinforcements fresh from the collegiate ranks.
The Crossovers officially announced the arrival of National University products winger Ces Robles, setter Joyme Cagande and top libero Jen Nierva in a social media post over the weekend ahead of the Invitational Conference set to begin 29 June.
But the biggest recruitment coup made by the 2021 Open Conference champion was the signing of the highly touted University of Santo Tomas open spiker Eya Laure and reliable middle Imee Hernandez.
Laure, who has seen action for Chery Tiggo back in 2019 in the defunct Philippine Superliga, brings in added firepower at the wing spot as she reunites with sister EJ.
The 24-year-old former Tigresses team captain just days ago has decided to forgo her last playing year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Her announcement came just hours after Hernandez revealed that she will be turning pro despite being still eligible to play another season for UST.
Laure, the UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year, averaged 19.14 points per game in her final run as she helped the Tigresses finish fourth place.
Laure and UAAP Season 84 Finals Most Valuable Player Robles’ inclusions would put more options for head coach Aaron Velez on offense alongside Mylene Paat, EJ, Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorador.
Hernandez, on the other hand, provides stability in front of the net.
Along with Czarina Carandang, Roselle Baliton and Seth Rodriguez, the youthful frontliner would further solidify Chery Tiggo’s blocking after just finishing sixth in team blocking last conference.
Meanwhile, Cagande would be a great backup for veteran playmakers Alina Bicar and Jasmine Nabor.
Nierva, who was named UAAP Season 84 Best Libero and was a vital cog in NU’s perfect title run last year that ended the school’s 65-year title drought and to a runner-up finish in Season 85, is expected to get ample playing time alongside experienced defense specialist Buding Duremdes.
Duremdes was last year’s PVL Reinforced Conference Best Libero.
Also expected to join the Crossovers is UST mentor Kungfu Reyes as part of the team’s coaching staff. Reyes will formally retire from military service by July.
Chery Tiggo is looking to end a string of misfortunes since winning the inaugural title of the country’s first and only women’s professional volleyball league.
The Crossovers finished 8th place in last year’s Open and Invitational conferences before barging to the Final Four of the Reinforced Conference to end the league’s second pro season.
Chery Tiggo landed fifth in the 2023 All-Filipino Conference.
