STA. ROSA — Chery Tiggo pumped life into its playoff hopes after eliminating Petro Gazz 25-22, 25-14, 25-21 for its first win in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Thursday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex here.
Shaya Adorador and Alina Bicar starred in the Crossovers’ win that put them at the sixth spot with a 1-3 slate. The former delivered a game-high 15 points while the latter, who replaced Jasmine Nabor in the starting unit, had 13 excellent sets, 11 excellent digs, and five points while also producing four double-digit scorers
“Syempre very grateful kami sa nangyari ngayon kasi unang una, nakumpleto yung team namin, nagawa namin yung strategy na gusto namin, and nakumpleto kami dito sa game namin sa Laguna,” said Chery Tiggo head coach Clarence Esteban as Buding Duremdes finally made it back to the line-up.
EJ Laure, Justine Dorog, Bicar, and Duremdes were all out at the start of the season after being put in the league’s health and safety protocols. The first three made their return in the previous games while libero out of Far Eastern University only made her debut today.
Chery Tiggo, though, is still without star hitter Dindin Santiago-Manabat (left ankle sprain) and middle blocker Joy Dacoron.
“Sinasabi nga namin sa kanila wala namang imposible e. Lahat napagaaralan, lahat naman natatrabaho. Ang inaano namin is mag-trabaho lang kami nang sabay sabay, gumawa tayo ng mabuti nang sabay sabay, tiyak makukuha natin yung panalo,” added Esteban, who finally got his first win in the professional scene.
Entering the second technical timeout of the third frame, Adorador scored three points in a 6-2 run that helped the Crossovers pull away in the third set, 22-16.
Remy Palma, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and Chie Saet answered with three straight points to slice the lead to three and keep the Angels afloat in the match but Adorador converted one in, 23-19, to halt Petro Gazz’s momentum.
The Angels managed to close the gap to two off an error from Bicar, who miscalculated her set, 21-23. That’s when Mylene Paat and EJ Laure took over, delivering the last two points to seal the win.
The Angels, who were coming off a silver finish in the 2022 Open Conference, have struggled to get into the win column after losing to Creamline, Army-Black Mamba, PLDT, and now Chery Tiggo. They dropped to seventh place and are now officially out of contention for a playoff spot.
Maizo-Pontillas led Petro Gazz with 12 points, all from the attack line, and eight excellent receptions.
No other player reached double digits in scoring for the Angels. Grethcel Soltones, MJ Phillips, and Palma each had seven markers.
Chery Tiggo will next face Army-Black Mamba at 2:30 PM on Tuesday while Petro Gazz will face Cignal later that day at 5:30 PM at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
