Chery Tigo scores anew, grabs solo lead

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AFTER scrambling to beat Farm Fresh in its opening game, Chery Tigo returned yesterday to score a dominant 25-14, 25-18, 25-21 victory over Galeries Tower to take the solo lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

Showing offensive sock virtually lacking in their 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 escape over the Foxies last Tuesday, the Crossovers proved dominant in attacks and also proved tough on the defensive end, coming up with nine kill blocks in the first two sets on their way to their second straight-set win in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

The Highrisers absorbed their second straight defeat after losing 11-25, 24-25, 22-25 to the Petro Gazz Angels late Tuesday.

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“We were able to stick to the plan. We’re not actually looking after the result but in building chemistry,” said Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez. “Whoever is brought in, it’s not necessarily they deliver but more on to keep pace with our lead players.”

With sisters EJ and Eya Laure on the firing end, the Crossovers found little trouble handling the Highrisers throughout their one-hour, 17-minute encounter, ending up with 43 attack points for a glaring 16-hit edge over their rivals still working on their cohesion, reception and net defense.

Galeries mounted a late rally in the third set behind Dimdim Pacres, whose power hits and clever drop balls helped pull the Highrisers to within one twice, the last at 20-21.

But the Crossovers warded off the threat by scoring four of the last five points, capped by Cess Robles’ stinging back-to-back kills.

Robles, who anchored Chery Tiggo’s win over Farm Fresh with a 10-point blast in a two-set stint, also saw limited action against Galeries but the former National U stalwart delivered and ended up with three points in a late third set appearance.

“Every conference, dapat nag-i-improve. It’s all about connection, para isang tingin lang, alam na ng lahat kung ano ang gagawin,” said playmaker Jasmine Nabor, who produced 14 excellent sets, the bulk of which set the tone for the Laures’ assaults, leading to their second straight combined 27-point output.

Nabor also finished with seven points and five excellent digs in a superb all-around performance that netted her Player of the Game honors. She also made three blocks as the Crossovers wound up with a 11 against the Foxies’ measly one-block contribution from Mary Anne Esguerra.

EJ, who scored 13 points against the Foxies, unloaded 15 hits while Eya slowed from a 14-point game to 12-point showing while Shaya Adorador matched Nabor’s output and Imee Hernandez and Jaycel delos Reyes combined for nine points as the Crossovers continued to buck the absence of injured top gun Mylene Paat and setter Joyme Cagande. — Abby Toralba

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