The new team will have some veterans to lean on.
The Foton Tornadoes, who had earlier announced their return to the pro circuit, have unveiled their lineup for the upcoming PVL Invitational Conference.
Headlining the team are Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, Seth Rodriguez, France Ronquillo, May Luna, Jaila Atienza, and Bingle Landicho—all of whom previously played for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
After having played for Chery Tiggo, Adorador and company will be expected to take on the leadership mantle for this new breed of Crossovers, who will also include Nene Bautista, Bern Flora, Carly Hernandez, Babylove Barbon, Maji Mangulabnan, Sydney Niegos, and Mary Rhose Dapol
Luna, a former De La Salle Lady Spiker, looks ready for that challenge.
“Kami ‘yung mga bata sa dating team namin, kami ‘yung sumusunod, so ngayon dapat kami na ‘yung maging example sa mga bagong teammates namin, sa mga mas bata,” Luna shared in One Sports’ The Game on Thursday, when asked about her possible role in Chery Tiggo as an ex-Crossover. “Marami rin kaming teammates na mas bata, so kailangan kami ‘yung ilu-look-up nila na okay ‘yung gagawin namin, maayos ‘yung ginagawa namin.
One thing the new Crossovers can expect to see from their veterans is a palpable fighting spirit—something that, according to Rodriguez, was passed on to her by Chery Tiggo legend Mylene Paat.
“Ang natutunan ko siguro na dadalin [to Chery Tiggo] is ‘yung palaban, lalo si Ate Mylene Paat,” said Rodriguez when asked what she would bring to the table for Chery Tiggo. "We all know kung gaano siya kapalaban pagdating sa game. ‘Yun siguro ‘yung binaon ko going to Foton.”
The Crossovers will need to absorb that kind of fighting spirit to put up a good fight in the PVL Invitational, which will see the holdover teams parading souped-up lineups teeming with talent.
The PVL’s midseason tourney begins on June 27.