From the collective brilliance of its veterans and promising reserves, Chery Tiggo staged a remarkable comeback – rising from an ego-deflating second-set loss and a huge deficit in the pivotal third – to book its return to the Premier Volleyball League Finals for the first time in four years.
Ara Galang and Cess Robles led the charge with 15 points apiece, while Imee Hernandez marked her return to top form with a 12-point performance. Renee Peñafiel continued to impress with 10 markers, and fellow rookie Erika Deloria came through in the clutch, scoring four crucial points to help the Crossovers dispatch the Cignal HD Spikers, 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, in front of a roaring Tuesday crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Sobrang saya at sobrang proud ako sa team,” said Galang, who earned Best Player of the Game honors to the delight of Chery Tiggo fans. “Pero hindi pa tapos – may Sunday game pa.”
Indeed, the mission is not yet complete. The Crossovers are eyeing only their second PVL crown, having captured the inaugural professional championship in 2021 after a stunning five-set win over Creamline. Their PVL On Tour Finals opponent is still to be determined, with the 10-time champion Cool Smashers and the unbeaten PLDT High Speed Hitters battling for the last Finals berth as of presstime.
Still, the Crossovers’ gutsy two-hour, five-minute triumph was one for the books – and a well-deserved cause for celebration.
“Nakaka-proud ang buong team,” said Chery Tiggo coach Norman Miguel. “Masaya kasi hini naman talaga naging madali ‘yung pinagdaanan namin, especially these past few days na me mga players na hindi nakaka-attend sa training kasi may sakit…mabuti at na-manage namin at eto yung resulta. Maraming salamat talat, grateful kay Lord.”
Galang credited the win to their patience, composure and trust in one another, while highlighting the importance of staying focused and capitalizing on each player’s strengths.
“Malaking factor ’yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa. Pero hindi pa tapos. Ang importante ay mag-focus sa kakayanan ng bawat isa,” she added.
Robles also stood out defensively, tallying 11 excellent digs and 11 receptions, complementing libero Karen Verdeflor’s 15 digs.
Meanwhile, Hernandez made her presence felt at the net with four powerful kill blocks.
Jasmine Nabor delivered 21 excellent sets, edging out her counterpart Gel Cayuna by just one.
After dropping Set 2 in deflating fashion and stumbling early in the third, the Crossovers looked like a team on the ropes. But they dug deep – fueled by grit, chemistry and a hunger to end their Finals drought – and came through when it mattered most. I
In a tension-filled fourth set, Chery Tiggo capitalized on the momentum from their Set 3 steal, quickly seizing control and dictating the tempo. A deft left-handed down-the-line push from Robles gave the Crossovers a 17-12 cushion, and when Heather Guino-o misfired wide, Chery Tiggo extended the gap to a commanding 22-16.
But true to form, the HD Spikers refused to go quietly.
They stormed back with a 4-1 run, trimming the deficit to just 20-22, highlighted by Guino-o’s block touch and Erika Santos’ explosive hitting. Though Peñafiel answered with a timely crosscourt kill to restore a three-point edge, Cignal responded once more – Santos unloaded a signature power spike and Guino-o followed with a sharp service ace – to pull the HD Spikers within one again, at 23-22.
Still, the Crossovers didn’t flinch.
As the pressure mounted and the crowd roared, Hernandez delivered a composed quick attack in the middle to make it 24-22. Then, after Santos fired her 26th point of the night to cut the lead to 24-23, Galang rose to the occasion, blasting a decisive hit that crushed Cignal’s hopes of extending the match – and sealed Chery Tiggo’s hard-fought ticket back to the Finals.
Despite Cignal twice rallying to get within striking distance, Chery Tiggo’s composure, trust and unshakeable focus under pressure proved to be the difference.
It was a tough loss for Cignal, especially for Santos, whose explosive performance ultimately went to waste – along with Lalongisip’s 13 points, Roselyn Aquino’s seven, and the six-point contributions from both Guino-o and Jackie Acuña.
While Chery Tiggo trailed in attacks (56-59) and aces (1-4), the team more than made up for it with a solid defensive showing, tallying 12 blocks – five more than the HD Spikers.
