Just as it managed to fight back from a 2-0 set deficit, Chery Tiggo mounted an incredible comeback in the decider.
The Crossovers overcame Petro Gazz, 16-25, 11-25, 25-13, 25-22, 18-16, in Game Two of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Battle for Third to stay in the hunt on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
However, the fate of the Crossovers still depends on the Finals series between Creamline and Choco Mucho.
If the Cool Smashers end the series in that game – currently being played as of publishing time – the decision for the third place will go to the tiebreaker system.
If Creamline takes the title later, the Angels will bag bronze due to a superior points ratio (1.126-0.888).
But if the Flying Titans force a decider, the rubber matches will be on Tuesday, still at the Big Dome.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“At first, medyo unstable ‘yung first unit namin. Hindi nag-materialize ‘yung galawan, kaya talagang nagbalasa na kami ng tao para at least, kailangan naming sumubok eh,” said Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes.
“Ang maganda naman, talagang maganda rin ‘yung ginalaw nila. Very thankful kami na sila naman ‘yung sinandalan ng mga main gunner namin,” he added.
After two lopsided losses in the first two sets, Reyes decided to pull out Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Alina Bicar, Cza Carandang, and EJ Laure.
In went Seth Rodriguez, Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, Pauline Gaston, and Mylene Paat, who sparked their comeback.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
The group, along with Eya Laure, forced a fifth set after winning the third and fourth frames, 25-13 and 25-22.
But the Angels found their second wind in the final set, as Jonah Sabete, Brooke Van Sickle, and MJ Phillips put their side at match point, 14-12.
Still, the Crossovers did not lose hope. A service error by Ivy Perez and Nabor’s rejection of Sabete extended the game.
Ultimately, Eya Laure decided to end the match on her own terms. She scored on an off-the-block hit and a crosscourt spike for the come-from-behind win in two hours and 34 minutes.
Laure led Chery Tiggo with 26 points, 12 digs, and 11 receptions, while Paat added 15 points.
Adorador finished with 10 points while Nabor was a scoring setter with nine points, including two crucial hits in the extension.
Rodriguez also delivered eight points built on six blocks.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
Van Sickle followed up her 36-point explosion in Game 1 with 30 points, 12 digs, and eight receptions, but the result did not favor Petro Gazz this time.
Sabete chipped in 18 points, while Aiza Pontillas and Phillips each got 10 apiece.
