Ranged against a team that has not dropped a set in four starts, Chery Tiggo dealt Petro Gazz not just one or two set defeats but three, including one that mattered most for the Crossovers, who eked out a 25-15, 27-25, 18-25, 25-23 victory in a key Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino elims match-up at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday evening
Not only did the Crossovers stop the Angels’ run but they also tied their victims and the PLDT High Speed Hitters at second at 4-1 as the race to the semifinals started to heat up among the league’s top guns three weeks into the single round elims featuring a record 12-team cast.
Chery Tiggo’s victory also left Creamline alone at the top again at 4-0.
Unable to sweep the Angels with what had appeared to be a shaky stint in the third, the Crossovers put their act back together in the next frame, storming to 11-6 and 15-9 leads before staving off the former’s series of fightbacks in the stretch to carve out the victory in two hours and three minutes.
With her spikers struggling to close out the Angels, who saved two match points on a Ranya Musa block and a Remy Palma slide attack, playmaker Jasmine Nabor took matters into her own hands, coming through with a blast on a 1-2 play that caught Petro Gazz defense by surprise.
But it didn’t startle the Crossovers, who all know that the former National U standout is also a reliable hitter.
On point both in offense and defense all game, Eya Laure exploded for 21 points while relishing the chance to be pitted against idol Aiza Pontillas for the very first time, spiking her game-long exploits with 15 attacks, four aces and two kill blocks.
“Petro Gazz is an experienced team and we just focused on our weaknesses,” said Laure. “But I cherished this moment since nakalaro ko for the first time ang idol ko.”
Shaya Adorador also proved clutch, scoring back-to-back hits to give Chery Tiggo a 23-20 lead in the fourth on her way to a 14-point production while Cess Robles and Pauline Gaston finished with 10 markers apiece.
Nabor likewise came through with a smart play before her endgame brilliance, opting for Cza Carandang instead of the team's designated hitters in a crucial play with the latter responding on a quick attack that put the team at match point.
Carandang finished with eight points while Ej Laure and Nabor, who finished with 18 excellent sets, added six and five markers, respectively.
“We really prepared for Petro Gazz. But they did work hard, especially in the second set, which was very crucial since we won in come-from-behind fashion,” said Chery Tiggo assistant coach Brian Esquibel, who worked the game with Kungfu Reyes in the absence of head mentor Aaron Velez, who had to attend to personal matters.
“It’s also about the team’s camaraderie kasi nagtulong-tulong silang lahat hanggang sa huli,” added Esquibel.
Pontillas and Grethcel Soltones matched 14-point games while Musa and Jonah Sabete scored 10 points apiece and Palma ended up with nine markers for the Angels, who yielded 22 attack points, 42-64, but made 13 blocks against the Crossovers’ seven.
Petro Gazz also scored 25 points off Chery Tiggo’s unforced errors but still lost the match despite yielding just 16 error points of their own.
