Chery Tiggo occupied the third semifinals seat after escaping another five-set thriller over F2 Logistics, 27-25, 11-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-10, in the Premier Volleyballl League All-Filipino Conference Saturday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Young guns Cess Robles and Eya Laure played clutch in the deciding set, pounding crucial hits to pull away in the closing stretch for the Crossovers’ sixth victory in a row for an 8-1 win-loss record at second spot tied with idle semis-bound Choco Mucho.
Unbeaten defending champion Creamline is the other squad that sealed a spot in the next round.
Libero Jen Nierva was the catalyst of the Crossovers’ transition from defense to attack with a solid performance of 27 digs and 21 excellent receptions.
Mylene Paat displayed her scoring prowess with 15 spikes, three kills blocks and three aces for 21 points, Eya Laure had 19 markers, EJ Laure added nine while Robles made eight for Chery Tiggo.
Meanwhile, Petro Gazz kept its flickering semis hopes alive after eliminating Akari, 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 32-30, for a 6-4 slate.
Marian Buitre posted a professional career-high points built on 12 kills, four kill blocks and two aces for the Angels. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas scored 18 of her 19 markers while Grethcel Soltones got all of her 18 points from kills.
The Chargers, who got 26 points from Dindin Santiago-Manabat, fell to a 5-5 mark.
Robles and Eya Laure had two kills each in the decisive 4-2 swing to push Chery Tiggo’s lead in the fifth set to 12-9. After Paat committed a net touch violation, the Crossovers scored three straight points with Pauline Gaston sealing the win with an off speed attack.
F2 Logistics suffered its fourth straight defeat for a 4-6 mark.
Ara Galang finished with 22 points including 20 kills while Ivy Lacsina and Majoy Baron had 19 and 13 markers, respectively, for the Cargo Movers.
