CHERY Tiggo came out strong and finished stronger yesterday, securing a 25-12, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22 victory over PLDT to move to solo third in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Entering the match with a win-loss-win record, the Crossovers were viewed as underdogs against the High Speed Hitters, who had confidently swept their first three games.
However, the league’s hallmark unpredictability came into play, as Chery Tiggo delivered a performance that showed it title aspirations.
The Crossovers came out firing on all cylinders, blitzing the High Speed Hitters in the opening set and leaving the previously unbeaten PLDT squad reeling. Although their bid for a straight-sets win fell short, Chery Tiggo’s resilience was on full display in the fourth set.
Trailing 17-19, they mounted a comeback, outwitting the High Speed Hitters in a high-stakes endgame showdown.
Playmaker Alina Bicar orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 15 excellent sets to keep PLDT’s defense guessing. Her precise playmaking allowed multiple attackers to shine, effectively neutralizing the High Speed Hitters’ depth and firepower anchored on Savi Davison.
Libero Jen Nierva spiked Chery Tiggo’s defense with an all-around stellar performance. She tallied 17 excellent digs and 16 receptions, earning the game’s top honors.
“I came into the match well-prepared. I studied all of PLDT’s tendencies, analyzing everything they might do,” said Nierva, whose defensive brilliance was pivotal in Chery Tiggo’s two-hour and two-minute victory.
Despite the impressive result, Nierva acknowledged that the team is still a work in progress.
“We’ve identified a lot of areas that need improvement. We’re still far from our ultimate goal, but every day we’re working hard to get better,” she added.
