Veteran Aby Maraño is up to the challenge of playing the role of skipper for her new club Chery Tiggo.
Coming in as the most seasoned player in the team after her transfer from disbanded F2 Logistics, the grizzled middle blocker was tasked by new head coach Kungfu Reyes to lead the team in its quest for glory in the coming Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
“I had mixed reactions when they told me that I’m going to be team captain,” the 31-year-old ace said after taking over the part played by her good friend Mylene Paat.
“First I asked myself: ‘Is this really my life’s calling, to be a leader of a team?’ And at the same time, I felt the pressure because I know the tremendous weight of responsibility as a leader,” the decorated volleyball star said.
Being captain is nothing new to the 5-foot-9 De La Salle University product.
Maraño has served as skipper of the Lady Spikers during their amazing dynastic rule in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in the 2010s. She also stood as leader of her former commercial clubs and even captained the various national women’s volleyball squads numerous times.
“(But) I realized even before the coaching staff made the announcement, that maybe they see that leadership in me. That it comes naturally in me.”
Maraño along with another veteran in Ara Galang transferred to the Crossovers last month following the withdrawal of the Cargo Movers in the league.
Their arrival added more experience and maturity to the club composed of a mix of seasoned players and youngbloods as it bids to end a three-year title drought since winning the 2021 Open Conference.
Maraño expressed confidence in quickly adapting to Chery Tiggo’s system. She also mentioned that familiarity wasn’t a problem as she had played with the likes of Mylene Paat, sisters EJ and Eya Laure, Shaya Adorador and Jasmine Nabor before.
“For the first parts of the training, it wasn’t really hard for me to adjust with the team because first of all, I was able to play with half of the team in the past for the national team and I was able to represent this team back in 2016 for some international competitions where they invited me as reinforcement,” she said, adding that she felt the warm welcome of the squad.
“I felt right at home with the players and coaching staff. They are very welcoming, plus the younger ones are very nice and very respectful.”
Maraño’s leadership will be put to the test as Chery Tiggo shoots for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League crown starting on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
The weeklong tournament serves as a primer for the Crossovers heading into the PVL wars beginning 20 February.
