By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Chery Tiggo Crossovers are going all in this coming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season after acquiring two big names in the free agency market.
With the off-season now officially underway after the holidays already passed, the Crossovers wasted no time pulling the trigger after securing veteran spiker Ara Galang and star middle blocker Aby Marano to a deal effective this 2024.
Galang and Marano immediately turned into free agents after their PVL franchise F2 Logistics Cargo Movers disbanded due for multiple reasons.
The dynamic duo is expected to bring the veteran presence the young squad needed after winning several championships during their heydays at the Philippine Superliga while leading the Cargo Movers to a semifinal appearance last PVL conference.
Despite an injury-plagued professional volleyball career, Galang remained one of the steadiest scorers for the F2 Logistics and has helped the franchise enter the PVL playoffs after transferring from the now-defunct PSL league.
“I’m very thankful kasi may opportunity na ganito na maglaro sa Chery, and super excited din kasi unang-una, first time ko lang din na makakasama ng iba talaga, so pumunta ako sa team na wala gaanong kakilala,” said Galang.
Galang will now act as a leader to Chery Tiggo’s young offensive core of Eya Laure, Princess Robles, and Pauline Gaston.
She will also be reuniting with her former national squad teammate Mylene Paat, the current veteran of the Chery Tiggo team.
Meanwhile, Marano will look to fortify the squad’s defensive department and will serve as a mentor to uprising star Imee Hernandez.
A multiple-champion and a staple member of the national team, Marano will also lead the Crossovers in the locker room together with Paat.
“Actually, naeexcite talaga ako to be a part of Chery Tiggo, parang ‘pag nagda-drive ka lang di’ba, parang ang sarap umarangkada kasama ang Chery,” Marano said.
