Chery Tiggo recovered after stumbling in the second, beating Galeries Tower in four sets, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, to close the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference first round on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Crossovers finished tied with Creamline (13 points) and PLDT (12) for first to third in Pool A but ended up third due to inferior match points (11).
They will enter Pool C against Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, and ZUS Coffee.
“A win is a win. Malaking bagay, though talagang mahirap kalaban ang Galeries kasi nga yung floor defense nila, vital din yung atake nila kanina. Sa amin medyo off timing… Luckily tumama kami nung bandang dulo,” said Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes.
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The Highrisers were two points away from taking a 2-1 set lead, 23-19. However, Ara Galang, Shaya Adorador, Khat Bell, and Seth Rodriguez fired six straight points for the Crossovers’ third-set win.
Chery Tiggo then needed another late run in the fourth, pulling away from 16-all with nine consecutive points with Galang taking over to emerge on top.
Bell, despite nursing a minor back injury, still made 25 points on 21 attacks, three blocks, and one ace with 12 excellent receptions and eight digs.
Galang followed with 16 points on 11 spikes and five of the team’s 13 blocks. Pauline Gaston also contributed nine points, while Mary Rhose Dapol and Shaya Adorador supplied six each.
The Highrisers went winless in the first round at 0-5. They will battle Akari, Cignal, and Capital1.
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France Ronquillo led Galeries with 13 points, while Andrea Marzan and Graze Bombita got 12 apiece in the loss.
Thai reinforcement Sutadta Chuewulim was held to nine points but still tallied 18 receptions and 16 digs.
