It’s official: Risa Sato completes move to Chery Tiggo

RISA Sato will embark on a new chapter in her PVL career with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

The team’s formal announcement was the final confirmation of Sato’s high-profile transfer, days after she was sighted in a luncheon with her now-fellow Crossovers earlier this month.

“Yōkoso Risa-san! To our newest addition to our growing family, welcome! Your skills and energy are a game-changer and we can’t wait to have you on the court with us,” Chery Tiggo wrote on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation on Sato’s PVL future.

Photo by: Sherwin Vardeleon

The 30-year-old Fil-Japanese middle blocker was a part of all 10 of Creamline’s title wins since moving from another champion team in Balipure in 2018.

Her final act as a Cool Smasher before deciding not to renew her contract was a special one in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference, which saw Creamline complete Philippine volleyball’s first Grand Slam after two failed attempts.

Sato adds title-winning pedigree to the PVL’s first professional champion squad as the most decorated player in the league with 12 titles to her name — 10 with Creamline, one with Balipure and one with National University.

Photo by: Patrick Romero

She is also the only middle blocker in league history to win the positional award in all three conferences of a single season back in the first-ever PVL season in 2017.

Such a serial winner should prove to be an integral addition to the Chery Tiggo defense as she teams up with captain Aby Maraño, Cza Carandang, Seth Rodriguez and an on-the-mend Imee Hernandez under the former champion coach of Sato’s alma mater NU, Norman Miguel.