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The Chery Tiggo Crossovers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — Chery Tiggo came back from the dead, escaping Creamline in a five-set thriller, 25-20, 24-26, 21-25, 25-17, 17-15, in the 2025 PVL Invitational, Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
It became a battle of attrition after the Crossovers clawed their way back from a three-point deficit, 7-10, in the final frame.
The Norman Miguel-coached squad eventually took the driver's seat at the 12-11 mark, unleashing a critical 5-1 run capped by an Ara Galang off-speed hit.
Creamline first reached match point, 14-13, after a Pangs Panaga quick attack, but Cess Robles was there to save one match point as rookie Renee Penafiel showed no signs of nerves, blocking former PVL MVP Michele Gumabao on the net to reach the 15th point first.
Gumabao found the spike to knot the game once more, 15-all, but she faltered on the next play, suffering a service error to propel Chery Tiggo to match point, 16-15, as skipper Alyssa Valdez committed an unfortunate net fault to wrap up the extended Set 5, although in favor of the Crossovers.
Before this, Chery Tiggo also trailed two sets to one after faltering in Sets 2 and 3.
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For Miguel, this was their way of bouncing back after falling to PLDT in their last game date, 25-16 25-14 25-20, calling it an "embarrassing loss."
"Big win ito kasi talagang big loss naman kami nung isang araw. So, talagang wala kaming choice kundi i-redeem namin yung sarili namin," he said during the postgame press conference.
Galang top-scored for the Chery Tiggo side, listing 20 points to headline four players in double-digit scores.
Penafiel followed with 18 points, Robles had 16, and Ponggay Gaston registered 10 points.
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Returning Alas Pilipinas defensive specialist Jen Nierva concluded the match with 18 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions.
The Crossovers went up to a 2-1 win-loss card, while the Cool Smashers fell to 1-2.
Galanza paced the Creamline nest with 23 points, 12 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs, while Gumabao notched 21 points—four of those in the earlier part of Set 5.
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