By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Ilongga volleybelle Abigail Maraño is headed to a new team for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season after being signed up by the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
The Iloilo province’s Passi City-native Maraño formalized her transfer to the Crossovers on Tuesday afternoon, January 2, after her former team, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, decided to disband their women’s volleyball team.
Maraño expressed her excitement about joining the Crossovers, highlighting her reunion with former national team members, such as Eya Laure, Mylene Paat, Ilongga Ma. Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, and Jennifer Nierva.
“Actually, nae-excite talaga ako to be a part of Chery Tiggo. Parang ‘pag nagda-drive ka lang, ‘di ba? Parang ang sarap umarangkada kasama ang Chery,” the 31-year-old volleyball player said.
“‘Yung mga players kasi from Chery, nakasama ko na sila from the national team — especially sina Mylene Paat, si Jasmine Nabor, si Shaya, si Eya, Nierva, and a lot more. So excited ako to be working with these players,” she added.
The former De La Salle University Lady Spikers star reiterated her determination to contribute to the Cargo Movers’ quest for their first PVL championship since the 2021 open conference.
“They [fans] know me as a player with a very big heart — very passionate, vocal and a leader. So I want them to expect that from me. Going to Chery Tiggo, dadalhin ko lahat ‘yun for a chance to win a championship,” Maraño said.
The veteran middle blocker was the second former Cargo Movers player to join the Crossovers team, aside from Victorinara “Ara” Galang, who also signed with the team on Tuesday.
“Super excited ako dito sa Chery Tiggo, kasi first time ko lang din [na] makakasama ng iba talaga. So pumunta ako sa team na wala gaanong kakilala,” Galang said.
“All-out naman ako lagi, so ibibigay ko ‘yung best ko every training, every game, every day,” she added.
Maraño and Galang were among the few former F2 players who have already found a new team, aside from Ethan Arce and Myla Pablo of the Petro Gazz Angels, Dawn Macandili-Catindig of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, and Ivy Lacsina of the Nxled Chameleons./ASC, WDJ