The Chery Tiggo Crossovers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Chery Tiggo is off to a winning start in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
But for that to happen, the team had to overcome Capital1 in five sets, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 15-11, on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Veteran spiker Ara Galang led Chery Tiggo's efforts, listing 23 points anchored on 18 attacks, four blocks, and an ace.
“Lagi lang kaming nire-remind na i-enjoy lang namin. Maganda kasi ‘yung tulong-tulong lang talaga kami,” said Galang during the postgame press conference.
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The Crossovers also gave UAAP champion mentor Norman Miguel a triumphant debut in the PVL.
Down two sets to one, the Crossovers cruised to a 4-0 run from a 12-10 count to pull away in the frame, eventually forcing a winner-take-all set.
In the decider, Miguel’s wards unleashed four unanswered points from the 9-all mark, sparked by a drop from Galang for a 13-9 separation.
A service error from captain Aby Marano and an off-the-block hit from number two overall draft pick Leila Cruz kept Capital1 in the match, 13-11, but clutch hits from Daps Dapol and Galang completed Chery Tiggo’s comeback to conclude the two-hour, 43-minute match.
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For Miguel, the decider was more of a test of character as a team than skills.
"Nung umabot kami ng fifth set, that’s it. Sabi namin hindi na ito about skills, lalaban tayo. Character na ilalabas niyo. Nag-translate naman and sobrang saya," the UAAP champion coach said.
Cess Robles was also in twin-digit scoring for Chery Tiggo with 12 points and also had a whopping 27 excellent digs for the defense.
Cruz exploded for career-best 20 points and tallied 16 excellent digs, pacing the gritty Capital1 side, while former Ateneo star Roma Mae Doromal registered 28 excellent digs.
The Crossovers will battle Cignal HD on Thursday, November 21, while Capital1 has a chance to bounce back against Choco Mucho at the same game date.
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