Chery Tiggo scored a gutsy 29-27, 27-29, 25-18, 25-23 win against collegiate champion College of St. Benilde and barged into the winner’s circle of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Crossovers were challenged by the Lady Blazers in the first two sets before flaunting their might in the last two sets for a huge rebound following a debut loss to Cignal on Sunday.
Four players scored in twin digits led by former PVL MVP Mylene Paat with 16 points on 13 hits, two blocks and an ace as Chery Tiggo needed two hours and six minutes to dispatch the hard-fighting NCAA and PNVF Challenge Cup champions.
Prized recruits Aby Maraño and Ara Galang, former F2 Logistics players, added 12 points apiece – same output by Cza Carandang.
“Ang naging advantage lang namin siguro ‘yung maturity ng mga players sa loob ng court kasi first two sets, medyo struggle eh,” said deputy Brian Esquibel in lieu of head coach Kungfu Reyes, who had to attend to UST’s knockout game in the UAAP Season 86 girls volleyball playoffs.
“Isang factor na rin ‘yun (new team, new players). Hindi pa gamay ‘yung bawat isa. Andon yung skills ng individual pero ‘yung as a team, mino-mold pa lang namin.”
Still smarting from a 26-28, 19-25, 25-27 loss to the HD Spikers, the Crossovers took time to heat up while the Lady Blazers came out determined to pull off an upset.
CSB even took a 24-22 lead but Chery Tiggo refused to blink as it launched a
searing 7-3 attack to draw first blood.
CSB returned the favor in the second set, flipping a 25-26 deficit capped by Gayle Pascual’s back-to-back hits.
The Crossovers, however, intensified their attack in the third, relying heavily on their veterans, especially Marano who fired a series of thunderous spikes.
