Paat embraces bigger role

A bigger responsibility awaits team captain Mylene Paat in the new-look Chery Tiggo for the coming Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.

Not only will the opposite hitter be the focal point of the Crossovers on offense but her leadership will also be tested with the injection of a talented batch of highly-touted fresh recruits led by sought-after collegiate star Eya Laure.

"I guess my biggest role right now is not just about attacks and skills but also as the team's leader inside," Paat said in a recent interview on the TV show "The Game."

Chery Tiggo signed Laure along with her University of Santo Tomas teammate middle blocker Imee Hernandez and National University's Ces Robles, setter Joyme Cagande and libero Jen Nierva while shipping seven players in its last conference's roster led by Shaya Adorador to sister team Foton.

Paat is expected to guide the youngbloods and Chery Tiggo's veteran core to work cohesively inside the court in the mid-season tournament unwrapping on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

"Our coaches told me that I have a bigger role to play this time and I must embrace that. In terms of skills, I know I'll have more help on offense (with new players coming in)," the reigning Reinforced Conference Most Valuable Player said.

"They (coaches) are always reminding me that I have the responsibility to make our team move and work well inside the court," she added. "That I should be the one instructing and relaying to my teammates about what they want us to do."

Helping Paat out are reliable holdovers Pauline Gaston, EJ Laure and Cza Carandang along with playmaker Alina Bicar and defense specialist Buding Duremdes.

The Aaron Velez-mentored Crossovers are looking forward to a better showing following an eighth-place finish in last year's edition. Chery Tiggo finished fifth in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference.

The Crossovers are in Pool A joined by defending champion Creamline, PLDT, Akari and newcomer Gerflor.