ILOCOS NORTE - Stunned by Choco Mucho Sunday night, Chery Tiggo got back at the Flying Titans in the same fashion Monday, as the Crossovers pulled off a 25-18, 25-22, 26-24 victory to force a rubber match for a finals berth in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference here.
Jaja Santiago, foiled in her bread-and-butter play with Jasmine Nabor a number of times, never gave up and regained her tempo and timing under the wire, powering the Crossovers to the straight-set victory that sent their best-of-three semifinal series into a deciding game on Tuesday at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra.
Creamline and Petro Gazz were disputing the other championship berth at press time with the Cool Smashers seeking a sweep of their side of the Final Four following their thrilling 27-29, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 16-14 victory, also last Sunday.
Games are telecast live on One Sports (Free to Air), and One Sports+ (Pay TV) with both channels available for linear streaming on Cignal Play and on gigafest.smart with replays on www.pvl.ph.
"Choco Mucho gave us a good fight. They're very aggressive but the ladies just poured their hearts out for this match," said Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez, who made the necessary adjustments, particularly in their service reception, to atone for their 18-25, 22-25, 21-25 setback in Game One.
The Flying Titans scored 12 straight points linking the second and third sets in the series opener as the Crossovers struggled on the receiving end, the first five turning a 20-22 deficit into a steal of a set and the next seven serving as the big cushion to the Crossovers' last-ditch rally that fizzled out.
Chery Tiggo imposed its will upfront against a Choco Mucho side boasting of a triple tower combination, blasting in 44 attack points, 14 more than their rivals with Dindin Manabat leading the assault with 16 hits on her way to a 19-point output.
The Flying Titans kept on coming back in each set, particularly in the third, but the Crossovers always have an answer for each Choco Mucho threat to pound out the one-hour, 31-minute victory.
Santiago finished with 13 points, including three blocks, to earn the game's top honors, while Mylene Paat and Shaya Adorador provided added firepower with a combined 19-point game.
"This has come down to a mind game. We have to control ourselves and play with more consistency," said Santiago, adding they must sustain their momentum and further improve to help fuel their final drive in Tuesday's crucial match.
It will also be a question of endurance and poise given the daily grind, plus the ability to withstand the pressure of sudden death for a crack at the title and the bragging rights as winner of the country's first pro volley league.
The Flying Titans came away with eight blocks, three more than the Crossovers but yielded 10 points off the serve while scoring four aces.
Kat Tolentino took charge again for Choco Mucho, knocking down 14 points but failed to draw solid backup from Maddie Madayag, who scored just seven points, and Bea de Leon and Ponggay Gaston, who turned in five points apiece after sizzling with 10 points each in Game One.
Caitlyn Viray, who didn't see action in Game One, stepped up to fire six points for Choco Mucho.
