Miguel banks on bond, balance for Crossovers title bid

In the run-up to the PVL On Tour finale, Chery Tiggo head coach Norman Miguel is taking a different approach — one focused less on drills and more on deepening the emotional and mental bonds that hold his team together.

Rather than overloading players with last-minute adjustments, Miguel is trusting the process, his staff, and most importantly, his athletes.

His emphasis is on connection — an intangible that he believes can be a decisive factor in high-pressure matches.

Miguel speaks from experience, having steered the National University Lady Bulldogs to a title redemption in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament last year through the same philosophy.

For him, that victory was not just won on the court but built in the trust and relationships forged off it.

“Sa tingin ko lang, based na rin sa past experiences ko na na-swertihan na napag-champion, yung connection,” said Miguel. “Yung connection with the players sa akin kasi malaking bagay yun — na may nae-establish kang relationship. Although syempre hindi siya smooth flowing, during the training may mga bumps yan. But still, hindi mo dapat i-give up yung connection mo sa bawat isa, kasi doon magbi-build yung trust.”

Miguel believes that once the connection is in place, it translates into better on-court chemistry and shared responsibility.

“Sa team namin, kailangan talaga magko-contribute lahat. Based sa experience namin, pag natatalo kami, isa o dalawa lang ang nagdadala,” he said. “Pero ngayon, bawat isa nakakapagbigay ng points. There are three or four players consistently hitting double digits — malaking bagay yun.”

The Crossovers’ resurgence under Miguel has been gradual but steady.

From back-to-back eighth-place finishes, a fourth in the Reinforced Conference, and another fourth in the All-Filipino, the team struggled to regain its 2021 championship form.

Things began to change when Miguel took over late last year.

They swept their first three preseason matches, stumbled in a loss to ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles after leading two sets to one, then rebounded by routing Galeries Tower in the knockout round, halting the surging Nxled Chameleons, and dismissing the HD Spikers in the semifinals.

“Hindi talaga madali ‘yung pinagdadaanan namin,” said Miguel. “These past few days, merong mga players na hindi nakaka-attend ng training dahil may sakit. Sa amin kasi, kahit simpleng colds, hindi ka na a-attend. Pero na-manage namin siya. Eto na ‘yung resulta.”

Veterans Ara Galang, Cess Robles, and Imee Hernandez have provided scoring, stability, and leadership, while rookies Renee Peñafiel, Jyne Soreño, and Erika Deloria have brought fearless play and energy.

Miguel credits the veterans for guiding the younger players and fostering the team connection he values, ensuring everyone plays with rhythm and purpose.

But the mission is not yet complete.

Standing in their way in Sunday’s championship match at the SM Mall of Asia Arena is unbeaten PLDT, riding a 7-0 record and full of confidence.

For Chery Tiggo, the journey has been about reclamation, reconnection, and revival.

From underwhelming results to title contention, they have become a team defined by heart, humility, and hunger.

And only by playing as one can they put the cherry on top.