KNOWN for her setting prowess, Jasmine Nabor turned into a formidable attacker yesterday and Eya Laure put on the finishing touches as Chery Tiggo scored a nail-biting 16-25, 11-25, 25-13, 25-22, 18-16 victory over a stunned Petro Gazz at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
What seemed to be a one-sided affair turned into a gripping battle of wits and nerves at endgame, with the Crossovers pulling through and the Angels lamenting a missed opportunity for a bronze medal finish in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference before an overflow crowd.
Chery Tiggo’s stirring come-from-behind victory overshadowed Petro Gazz’s Game One triumph, which also unfolded in five sets, 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 15-12. This time, however, the Crossovers defied the odds through sheer determination and big fighting heart.
Laure later expressed the team’s collective mindset of striving to achieve a podium finish while highlighting the team unity and resilience.
“Ang mindset ay ilabas kung ano ung pinag-trabhuhan namin at magbigay ng podium finish sa Chery Tiggo,” said Laure after a workmanlike 26-point performance that earned her the game’s top honors.
“We got each other’s back, me mawawala sa court pero me mag-i-step-up,” she added, referring to the excellent rotation of players orchestrated by coach Kungfu Reyes.
While the victory sparked jubilation for Chery Tiggo, it dealt a big blow to Petro Gazz’s confidence. Despite holding match point at 14-12 following an Ivy Perez ace, the Angels faltered under pressure.
Perez’s subsequent service error, followed by Nabor’s block, prolonged the match, setting the stage for a tense exchange of rallies for the crucial points.
Jonah Sabete, undeterred by earlier spiking setbacks, unleashed a crafty off-speed shot against Laure to edge the Angels ahead once more, only to be met with Nabor’s relentless assaults, which lifted the Crossovers to a 16-15 lead.
After Brooke Van Sickle leveled the score for the 12th time, Laure seized control with thunderous spikes, clinching victory for the Crossovers in a thrilling two-hour, 20-minute showdown.
With the best-of-three series now tied at one game apiece, Petro Gazz’s hopes for a bronze medal hinge on the outcome of the Finals between Creamline and Choco Mucho, currently under way at presstime.
