While Khat Bell will continue to deliver for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, coach Kungfu Reyes knows their success in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference will depend on the performance of their locals.
Khat Bell continued to do Khat Bell things for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
The American spiker finished with 28 points built on 24 attacks and four blocks to lead Chery Tiggo past the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in straight sets, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19.
The Crossovers secured their fifth win in the tournament, securing their spot in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference quarterfinals.
But looking ahead to the knockout stage, coach Kungfu Reyes knows that his locals must play a more prominent role if they want to go all the way.
“Definitely ang ano namin sa local, sila 'yung talagang backbone ng team,” Reyes said during the post-game press conference.
“Pag nag-collapse 'yon, sigurado mahihirapan si Khat alone to deliver. She can handle niya 'yung sarili niya. Pero 'yung output ng local, dun magde-determine kung pa'no, kung saan kami pupunta, 'yung team namin,” he added.
Chery Tiggo was missing the services of Ara Galang, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, according to Reyes.
“Si Ara, may slight strain siya sa left rotators cuff, I think sa shoulder niya. So pinahinga lang muna namin siya, hindi na namin siya masyadong [isinugal] sa larong 'to kasi meron pang mga mas importanteng games. I mean 'yung presence niya mas kailangan dun sa mga susunod,” said Reyes.
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Stepping up during her absence were the Crossovers’ other spikers in Ces Robles, Shaya Adorador, Mary Rhose Dapol, and even veteran Mylene Paat.
Paat finished with 11 points, while Robles added seven markers. Adorador and Dapol had just a single point in the win but made it up for their floor defense.
“Sila na muna mag-fill up dun sa position na naiikutan ni Ara. Though nandiyan naman si Mylene so si Ara, nagre-recover lang nang slight dun sa minor injury niya sa shoulder,” said Reyes.
With one more game in the preliminaries, Reyes hopes the Crossovers can recover from their injuries in time for the quarterfinals.
“'Yung kumpiyansa, kinukuha naman namin 'yan sa kung paano kami nag-prepare for a certain match. So number one, I think 'yung health nila, 'yung hundred percent na prepared 'yung katawan nila, so walang iniinda,” said Reyes.
“Mas malaking [confidence] para sa amin 'yun kasi nga alam namin makaka-perform sila sa maximum performance nila,” he added.