PVL: Aaron Velez eager for redemption as he takes on dual role for Chery Tiggo

MANILA, Philippines – Aaron Velez will have to wear two hats in this 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference as team manager and head coach Chery Tiggo.

Velez, the franchise’s head coach from 2018 until last year’s Open Conference, was tasked with calling the Crossovers back in an announcement made Monday afternoon.

The returning coach, who led Chery Tiggo to the first PVL championship in 2021 in the Ilocos Norte Bubble, proved that Clarence ‘Aying’ Esteban is still part of the team because the management wants the tactics to focus only on the All-Filipino club.

‘100 percent focus’

Esteban, who was accepted last July for the Invitationals and brought back the Crossovers to the semifinals in the Reinforced Conference, also coaches the Mapua women’s volleyball program and is part of the KungFu Reyes coaching staff for the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses.

The NCAA and UAAP tournaments will also begin in February.

“The management feels and thinks that our coach Clarence should also focus on the UAAP [and NCAA] it’s volleyball season. I am not saying that coach Clarence will not be able to balance and he also said that he can still be a coach even if he has few teams. But the management also thinks that the team needs a coach, who will focus 100 percent on the club,” Velez said in Filipino during a video conference with reporters.

“He is still with the team. Even the other coach from UST is still with me. Everyone is intact. It is the only change that will be the catalyst of this conference,” he said.

DUAL ROLES

Velez admitted that he made some adjustments as he got used to his new job as the team’s manager over the past two conferences.

“There was a lot of adjustment for me because I was still the manager of the acting team so I had two positions,” Velez. “It’s a big adjustment because we have a different style of talking to the team which is already very different because coach Aying is a funny coach.”

The biggest part was the loss of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who joined Akari and left the responsibilities of the leadership and scoring role for Conference MVP Mylene Paat.

In addition to Manabat, Chery Tiggo can maintain the core of Cza Carandang, EJ Laure, Jasmine Nabor, Alina Bicar, Shaya Adorador, and Buding Duremdes as well as new acquisitions Pauline Gaston and Seth Rodriguez.

Having a dual role can be a challenge, but Velez said he is “blessed” because the players are working on the same page as the coach to achieve all-Filipino glory.

“The players are quick to respond because we’ve built our language, we’ve been together for years,” he said. “I just have to keep improving my communication skills, knowing how to deliver to each other, and we have to take responsibility in each role that we’re going to play and I think it’s going to be smoother. Now, I think we’re still intact in terms of our direction.

EAGER for redemption

Velez, a former player of the College of Saint Benilde, is grateful for the confidence of the management for giving him a second chance to take the picture again despite finishing eighth in the 2022 Open Conference, which will be the championship.

“I’m excited and at the same time nervous. But this is a chance for me to bounce back and redeem myself, using the learning experience I’ve had in [Open Conference] last year,” he said.

Velez set a modest goal to surpass fourth place in the Reinforced Conference.

“He did the last Reinforced Conference. I praise Coach Clarence and the whole team, coming from fourth place. I am [management] would expect no less. We have to leave everything on the floor and try our best to get to the Finals and win the championship again,” he said.

Chery Tiggo will be tested immediately when they open their campaign against the runner-up of the Conference Reinforced Cignal February 7 at the Philsports Arena.

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