"We want to be the Chery on top again."
Aaron Velez is back for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
The squad made the announcement on Monday on its social media page. Velez will be replacing Clarence Esteban, who ran the squad for the 2022 season.
"Coming off from a good Reinforced Conference, we are going to match or double our efforts. I commend Coach Clarence and I am going to be in charge for the All-Filipino," Velez told One Sports.
"We'll be much hungrier and we want to be the Chery on top again."
Velez was in charge for the 2021 edition, when the Crossovers won the championship with the Santiago sisters Jaja and Dindin. However, Chery Tiggo dropped to eighth in 2022, prompting the switch to Esteban.
Chery Tiggo remained in eighth place during the Invitational Conference. But Mylene Paat, fresh from her Thailand stint, pushed the squad to fourth in the Reinforced Conference.
Velez' goal will prove to be a challenge, with Jaja Santiago still playing in Japan and her sister Dindin Santiago-Manabat transferring to Akari. Chery Tiggo, though, tapped outside hitter Ponggay Gaston from Choco Mucho, middle blocker Seth Rodriguez from Petro Gazz, and libero Bingle Landicho from Akari to beef up its roster.
"Ponggay, she's really a natural leader so with that addition, that will be a good start for us," Velez said. "Having Seth is going to beef up our five, middle position."
"Rest assured that we are going to play our defensive soul and give more of our fierce offense," he added.