Sisters Eya and EJ Laure joined hands in powering Chery Tiggo into the win column with a 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-7, escape over Akari in Pool A of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
New recruit Eya hammered 16 of her 19 points on kills while EJ posted 15 markers and 11 digs for an all-around performance in the Crossovers’ rebound win after a stinging straight sets loss to defending champion Creamline two weeks ago to start their campaign.
Chery Tiggo relied on its youngbloods led by Eya to create significant separation in the fifth set for the two-hour, 28-minute escape.
“We’re very happy we got the win. With a very short conference, every win is very important,” Crossovers head coach Aaron Velez said as his squad kept its semifinals bid alive.
The younger Laure, who slid to an opposite spiker position with Mylene Paat suffering from camps, strung three straight points to give the Crossovers a 4-1 lead that ballooned to 9-3 after newcomers Imee Hernandez and Ces Robles joined the scoring fray.
Chery Tiggo built a 13-6 lead before Robles pushed the Crossovers at match point, 14-7. The Chargers surrendered the game when Eli Soyud committed an attack error.
“I’m really proud of my young players. You cannot discount their age. What they can actually offer, they really bring it on. Mylene is Mylene, but they are ready to tell her that they are ready to finish the job,” Velez said.
Paat finished with 11 points, Pauline Gaston also delivered 11 markers while rookie Joyme Cagande put up 17 excellent sets and four points.
Akari absorbed its second loss in as many games to fall on the brink of bombing out of the semis race.
Soyud produced 18 points including 15 from attacks while Trisha Genesis and prized recruit Faith Nisperos had 15 markers each for the Chargers.
