BY ABBY TORALBA
SHOWING poise when it mattered most, Chery Tiggo outlasted gritty Akari 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 15-6 yesterday to remain unbeaten in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Skipper Mylene Paat and middle blocker Cza Carandang took charge for the Crossovers with 19 points and 18 markers, respectively.
Import Jelena Cvijovic also fired 16 kills and 13 excellent receptions, while EJ Laure finished with 14 points and 12 excellent digs for Chery Tiggo, which took the early lead with a 3-0 mark, including a 25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory over Cignal six days ago.
The Chargers, coming off a 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 triumph over United Auctioneers Inc.-Army last Saturday, dropped to 1-2.
“Talagang slow start talaga kami so (sinabi ko lang sa kanila) more on boosting lang sa morale tsaka positive lang lagi iyong sinasabi na kaya natin, i-galaw lang natin iyong dapat nating i-galaw,” Crossovers coach Clarence Esteban said after being down one set to two.
“At the same time, sinasabi ko nga na ni-review namin iyong kalaban namin so naka-ready dapat kami ngayong araw na ito para talunin iyong kalaban namin. So, nag-work naman iyong ginawa namin,” he added.
Akari reinforcement Prsicilla Rivera sizzled with 30 points, while Janine Marciano delivered 24 markers, 18 digs, and 14 excellent receptions.
Krich Macaslang also contributed 11 kills for the Chargers.
