Chery Tiggo showed remarkable poise, mettle and staying power in outlasting a game but erratic Akari side still reeling from a punishing five-set grind the night before, hacking out a thrilling 24-26, 25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 15-10 victory in the PVL On Tour at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal on Sunday.
With fresher legs and a sharper mindset, the Crossovers clawed back from a set down, weathered an Akari fourth-set stand, then held sway in the decider with an explosive finishing kick. Chery Tiggo leaned not just on its seasoned hitters but also drew tremendous contributions from its promising rookies, completing a two-hour, 10-minute escape to stay unbeaten in the pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Heavy-hitting Cess Robles turned in an MVP-worthy performance, firing a game-high 23 points built on 21 attacks and two blocks. She also shone on defense, collecting 15 excellent digs and 10 receptions in a dazzling all-around effort that lifted Chery Tiggo to a 2-0 slate behind Cignal’s 3-0 card.
But it was the Crossovers’ heart, depth and hustle that ultimately made the difference – particularly from rookies Jyne Soreño and Renee Penafiel, who played beyond their years in the clutch.
Soreño shrugged off a brief health scare in Set 3 and came back to finish strong, delivering the last two points, including a hammer from a reverse set and a match-clinching service ace that clipped the net and kissed the line.
Peñafiel likewise stepped up when it mattered most, contributing 12 points and eight receptions, including clutch hits that kept Chery Tiggo afloat during critical rotations when Robles and Soreño were on the bench. Her composure and maturity in high-pressure moments helped turn the tide in favor of the Crossovers.
The fifth set was a war of attrition, featuring five deadlocks, the last at 6, before Chery Tiggo uncorked a momentum-shifting 11-4 closing burst. Jasmine Nabor’s smart 1-2 play broke the tie and sparked the run. An error from Akari’s Eli Soyud gave the Crossovers a two-point cushion before Imee Hernandez extended the lead with a quick attack.
After Ivy Lacsina momentarily stopped the bleeding with a joust win, Akari unraveled with three straight errors – a net violation followed by back-to-back attack miscues from Soyud and Lacsina – allowing Chery Tiggo to surge to a 13-9 lead.
Though Kamille Cal managed to deny Robles at the net, Soreño took charge from there, firing a massive kill and the final ace to seal the victory.
The Crossovers’ mental toughness and composure under pressure were on full display – traits that stood in contrast to Akari’s disjointed, error-strewn outing. Despite leading in blocks (14-5) and matching Chery Tiggo nearly point for point in attacks (56-59), the Chargers’ campaign was undone by a staggering 41 unforced errors – nearly double the Crossovers’ 21.
Akari did show flashes of brilliance, particularly in the fourth set, where they erased a near-meltdown with clutch plays down the stretch. Camille Victoria’s key block on Robles gave them a 23-18 cushion, but the Crossovers refused to fold.
Peñafiel keyed a four-point blitz, slicing the gap to one before Victoria struck again for set point. Robles was denied on the next play, but Grethcel Soltones came through with an off-the-block hit to send the match into a decider.
Akari’s offensive guns were led by Lacsina and Soyud with 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Ced Domingo added 12 markers. However, their late-game execution was marred by mental lapses and costly miscues, especially in the final frame, where they gifted the Crossovers crucial points at pivotal stretches.
Soltones, coming off a 23-point explosion against ZUS Coffee, was limited to just seven points, while rookie Chenie Tagaod also chipped in seven. Ezra Madrigal and Victoria added six and five points, respectively, for Akari, which fell to 1-3.
Despite the loss, the Chargers showed plenty of heart, gamely battling through fatigue and adversity after their grueling win over the Thunderbelles the previous night. But in the end, it was Chery Tiggo’s deeper bench, steadier nerves and unwavering spunk that proved decisive.
Coach Norman Miguel’s confidence in his squad was evident during a timeout midway through Set 4 when he reminded his players: “Guys, pagod na ang mga kalaban.”
True enough, Chery Tiggo pounced when the Chargers began to falter – hustling for every loose ball, forcing errors, and delivering when it mattered most.
Nabor orchestrated the offense with 28 excellent sets on top of five points, while Hernandez chipped in eight markers and Ara Galang added five after sitting out their previous match.
