Chery Tiggo delivered a scorching start and a blistering finish, securing a 25-12, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22 victory over PLDT to move to solo third spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.
Entering the match with a win-loss-win record, the Crossovers were viewed as underdogs against the High Speed Hitters, who had confidently swept their first three games. However, the league’s hallmark unpredictability came into play, as Chery Tiggo delivered a performance that echoed title aspirations.
The Crossovers came out firing on all cylinders, blitzing the High Speed Hitters in the opening set and leaving the previously unbeaten PLDT squad reeling. Although their bid for a straight-set win fell short, Chery Tiggo’s resilience was on full display in the fourth set.
Trailing 17-19, they mounted a comeback, outwitting the High Speed Hitters in a high-stakes endgame showdown.
Playmaker Alina Bicar orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 15 excellent sets to keep PLDT’s defense guessing. Her precise playmaking allowed multiple attackers to shine, effectively neutralizing the High Speed Hitters’ depth and firepower anchored on Savi Davison.
Meanwhile, libero Jen Nierva spiked Chery Tiggo’s defense with an all-around stellar performance. She tallied 17 excellent digs and 16 receptions, earning the game’s top honors.
“I came into the match well-prepared. I studied all of PLDT’s tendencies, analyzing everything they might do,” said Nierva, whose defensive brilliance was pivotal in Chery Tiggo’s two-hour and two-minute victory.
Despite the impressive result, Nierva acknowledged that the team is still a work in progress.
“We’ve identified a lot of areas that need improvement. We’re still far from our ultimate goal, but every day we’re working hard to get better,” she added.
Cess Robles led the charge for Chery Tiggo with a 17-point performance, dominating the first two sets. She received ample support from Ara Galang, Shaya Adorador and Pauline Gaston, who combined for 34 points – enough to offset Davison’s explosive 27-point effort for PLDT.
Bicar also contributed two points.
Erika Santos added 13 points for the High Speed Hitters, while Dell Palomata put in nine markers and Majoy Baron and Fiola Ceballos tallied seven and six points, respectively.
Despite conceding the spiking battle, 50-52, and struggling in blocking, 4-12, the Crossovers capitalized on PLDT’s shaky service reception, delivering eight aces while not giving up a single one.
They also exploited the High Speed Hitters’ erratic play, turning 33 unforced errors into free points while committing just 18 of their own, securing a decisive victory.
From the very first serve, it was evident the Crossovers were on a mission. Their relentless aggression in the opening set forced PLDT into a series of costly errors, paving the way for a commanding start.
Though Chery Tiggo surrendered a four-point lead midway through the second frame, they showed poise under pressure, overturning a 22-23 deficit with a decisive three-point run to take a 2-0 set lead.
PLDT responded with a strong performance in the third set, displaying the grit and firepower that had defined their earlier wins. However, their momentum fizzled in the fourth, where Chery Tiggo’s strategic adjustments and clutch plays sealed the victory.
The Crossovers dominated the first set, capitalizing on PLDT’s several errors, including a set-ending service fault by Baron. But it wasn’t just PLDT’s mistakes that shaped the game – Chery Tiggo’s offense ran like a well-oiled machine, and the Crossovers' defense proved impenetrable.
