The Chery Tiggo Crossovers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — A triumph four years in the making.
Chery Tiggo is back in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Finals after eliminating Cignal, 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, in the semifinal round of the PVL on Tour, Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The last time the Crossovers entered the championship round was in the 2021 PVL Open Conference, where they emerged triumphant against Creamlime.
In a chance to reclaim PVL glory, albeit a preseason title, it'll be no different, said Jasmine Nabor, who was one of the holdovers of Chery Tiggo's last champion squad.
"Sabi ko nga po sa mga natirang Chery na nag-champion dati — sa wakas. Kasi sobrang tagal din talaga naming inantay tsaka pinagtrabahuhan na makatuntong ulit dito. Ayun, mage-enjoy kami ngayon tapos trabaho ulit bukas para sa Sunday," said Nabor after the game.
Spiker Ara Galang is just living in the moment as she marked her first entry to the PVL championship stage.
"Oo nga po eh [first PVL finals]. Sobrang saya, sobrang saya lang ng nararamdaman ko. Ngayon siguro mage-enjoy, pero onto the next na rin...ayoko nang tumigil dito," said Galang, who poured in 15 points, done mostly on attacks, tying the team-high scoring output of Cess Robles.
"Nasa finals na kami, so 'yung opportunity gusto ko lang talaga i-grab. Pero masaya, sobra," the De La Salle University product added.
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Sitting on a 2-1 set lead, the Crossovers led by a wide margin in Set 4, which even ballooned to six. But the gritty Cignal, paced by Erika Santos, eventually closed in within one as Heather Guino-o fired an ace, 23-22.
Imee Hernandez answered back with a quick attack well placed by their setter Nabor to reach match point at 24-22.
Santos kept her team alive with an off-the-block kill for her 26th point, but Galang decided to wrap things up with a hit Guino-o could not dig, ending the match that lasted two hours and 16 minutes.
Chery Tiggo had a balanced scoring attack, led by Galang and Robles who had 15 points each; Hernandez chipped in 12 markers, as Renee Penafield added 10 points.
Nabor listed 21 excellent sets, as libero Karen Verdeflor did her part in the defense with 15 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
The Crossovers survived the 26-point explosion of Santos, built on 22 attacks and four blocks.
They will battle the winner of Creamline-PLDT semis game later in the day.