Chery Tiggo stormed back from a previous setback to deliver a devastating blow to the erstwhile-undefeated Creamline, running away with a 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 victory in a stunning turn of events in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims Saturday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The win not only served as a redemption for Chery Tiggo but also injected energy into the Crossovers’ title aspirations following a shaky 2-2 (win-loss) start to the season-opening conference of the league.
Libero Jen Nierva, instrumental in the team’s victory with 20 excellent digs and 10 receptions, highlighted the team’s unity and determination to rebound after their straight-set defeat to Farm Fresh last weekend.
“It was really a heartbreaking loss (to Farm Fresh), so we all wanted to bounce back,” Nierva said.
Despite maintaining their sixth-place position at 3-2, the Crossovers’ triumph over the Cool Smashers, who suffered their first shutout loss since 2019 (to the Petro Gazz Angels in the Reinforced Conference), underscored their resilience and impact in the league.
Eya Laure led the Crossovers’ assault with 14 points, letting out a big roar after hammering in an emphatic through-the-block blast that finished off the Cool Smashers.
A former top setter during her high school days at UST, Laure also showcased her playmaking skills in a brief stretch in the third.
“It feels terrific to win against a highly-rated team like Creamline and the coaches told us that we should be the hungrier team because we underneath them,” Laure said.
Middle Cza Carandang also outdid herself, backing Laure with 12 impact points, Ara Galang provided the needed firepower and scored 10 points, and Mylene Paat and Aby Maraño added nine and six points, respectively.
Carandang also pulled off three blocks while Maraño had two as Chery Tiggo dominated Creamline upfront, 9-5.
But it was Chery Tiggo’s consistency and teamwork that were evident throughout the match as the Crossovers weathered the Cool Smashes’ attempts at a comeback in the second set and secured a nerve-wracking victory in a back-and-forth third set skirmish that featured five deadlocks and four lead changes in the stretch.
The loss dropped Creamline to joint second with Petro Gazz at 4-1 while leaving Choco Mucho alone at the top with a 4-0 card.
Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Alyssa Valdez added five points in a two-set stint. But Michele Gumabao struggled in the face of the Crossovers’ solid net defense and wound up with just a point.
Pangs Panaga and setter Kyle Negrito scored four points apiece while Bernadeth Pons settled for a three-point output after top-scoring for the team with 12 points against the Strong Group Athletics the last time out.
