Chery Tiggo cruised to its second straight win after a clinical dismantling of Strong Group Athletics, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19, for a hold of the solo top spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It took the Crossovers only 77-minutes to down SGA with head coach Kungfu Reyes giving his starters an early rest.
Mylene Paat came off the bench in three sets of action to pace the balanced offensive outing of Chery Tiggo, which overwhelmed SGA with 52 attack points.
The lefty winger finished with 10 points with all but one coming off attacks while EJ Laure got all of her nine markers from kills for the Crossovers.
Aby Marano had six points while Ara Galang, who finished with 12 in Chery Tiggo’s opening day sweep of Capital1, played two frames off the bench to wind up with two markers.
“Getting better every game, that’s what we aim for. We were able to execute great plays and I’m happy for that,” Reyes said.
Chery Tiggo fielded all of its available players with all except the two liberos Jen Bierva and Buding Duremdes logging in points.
Cza Carandang and Ces Robles had seven markers each while EJ Laure finished with five points in just two sets of play.
“We want to maintain a deep bench. At the same time, we’re trying to work our timing in the transition of players, the composition inside the court and the substitutions,” Reyes said.
“We still have a long conference ahead so as much as possible we want our players to remain fresh, we don’t want to overuse them.”
Chery Tiggo was in control throughout the game despite giving away 17 points off errors.
No SGA player reached double-digit scoring as the expansion club dropped its second straight game in as many games.
Justine Rebleza, Dolly Versoza and Sheeka Espinosa had eight points each for SGA.
Meanwhile, Cignal came back from a set down to repulse Akari, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, and begin its campaign on a winning note.
Vanie Gandler led three other HD Spikers in double-figures with 19 points she collected from 17 kills, one kill block and an ace.
Ces Molina and Rose Doria added 16 markers each while Riri Meneses got 13 markers for Cignal, which had a solid outing at the net with 11 kill blocks. Doria accounted for four while Meneses had three kill blocks in the marathon two-hour, 10-minute encounter.
Offseason recruit Dawn Macandili-Catindig debuted for the HD Spikers with a bang after tallying 22 digs and 11 excellent receptions. Reigning Best Setter Gel Cayuna made a case for a back-to-back individual honor following a 24 excellent sets outing.
Cignal spoiled Grethcel Soltones’ first game as a Charger as she finished with 14 points, 12 digs and 13 excellent receptions. Dindin Santiago-Manabat had 12 markers while Faith Nisperos was shackled to only seven. Ced Domingo also debuted for Akari with two points.
