VOLLEY

Ara Galang crosses over to Chery Tiggo

Mark Escarlote

Chery Tiggo added another weapon to its arsenal after acquiring the services of veteran winger Ara Galang for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season opening next month.

The club formally announced the arrival of the outside spiker through its social media account on Tuesday, 2 January.

Galang, a University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player, has found a new home after the disbandment of her long-time club F2 Logistics last month.

Her addition will not only give the Crossovers extra firepower from the wing spot but will also provide experience and maturity to a team laden with young rising stars led by Eya Laure.

Galang, who was named Invitational Conference MVP in the defunct Philippine Superliga in 2018, averaged 11 points per game including 0.34 aces per game in her final stint with the Cargo Movers in the 2nd All-Filipino Conference last year.

The 28-year-old De La Salle University product would also be a big help for Chery Tiggo on floor defense with an impressive 43.72 percent reception efficiency last conference, landing at second spot behind Crossovers libero Jen Nierva (52.58) percent.

Chery Tiggo is banking on Galang to help other grizzled veterans in Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Pauline Gaston, Cza Carandang and Shaya Adorador to bring the club back to its old glory.

The Crossovers have not tasted a podium finish since ruling the 2021 Open Conference for the distinction as the country's first women's professional league champions.

Chery Tiggo, which will reveal another huge addition later in the day, ended at fourth place in the 2nd AFC.

Galang is the third former F2 Logistics player to sign a deal with another club after libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig joined Cignal and Ivy Lacsina transferred to Nxled last month.

The yet-to-be-announced season-opening tournament will begin on 17 February.