Chery Tiggo's Cess Robles. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – Fresh off its win against the Cignal HD Spikers, Kobe Shinwa University will go back to the drawing board to prepare for its crucial match against Chery Tiggo on Friday.
Kobe Shinwa held off Cignal in four sets, 25-7, 25-18, 19-25, 27-25, on Thursday to move a step closer to the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational final.
In the post-game press conference, Kobe Shinwa head coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto said they will watch videos of games of the Crossovers when they get back to the hotel.
Both Kobe Shinwa and Chery Tiggo have an identical 3-1 record in the Invitational, all set for a virtual knockout match.
READ: PVL: Chery Tiggo drives past Zus Coffee, boosts bid for Finals spot
The young squad's mentor said they are preparing for Chery Tiggo's Cess Robles, whom he described as their best outside spiker.
"'Yung talagang nakita niyang magaling 'yung number 1 [Cess Robles] -- 'yan 'yung ingat sila, 'yun ang pinakamagaling sa Chery Tiggo," said Yamamoto through a translator.
Yamamoto said their goal entering the tournament is to enter the final.
READ: PVL: Kobe Shinwa rides dominant opener en route to big win over Cignal
"Bago sila pumunta dito, 'yung target nila [ay] pumasok sa final. Pag-uwi sa hotel, magre-review na sila ng Chery Tiggo games," he added, as relayed by a translator.
As for Nagisa Komatsuda, she said their mindset heading into the crucial game against Chery Tiggo is to enjoy the game from start to finish.
She said this was one of the reasons why they faltered in the third set against the Cignal HD Spikers on Thursday.
After winning by big margins in the first two sets, Kobe Shinwa fell to the resilient Cignal in the third set.
Yamamoto said he told his players to enjoy the game in order to win the fourth set and ultimately the match.