BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat spearheaded a huge third set rally to lead Chery Tiggo to its first-ever victory in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference, 25-20, 25-17, 25-6 against PLDT at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center here, Saturday afternoon.
The Crossovers fired on all cylinders in the deciding set with three players scoring in an 8-4 run that was capped off by a Santiago quick.
PLDT managed to get a point through a Mylene Paat service error to slice the lead to three.
After that, it was all Chery Tiggo as the Santiago sisters, along with Ariane Layug, joined hands in a 17-1 barrage to end the match.
Joy Dacoron scored two consecutive points to finish off PLDT.
“Definitely, they were able to lead our team in terms of being a leader inside the court. Of course, they’re doing their volleyball skills and they performed as well I think it’s a big thing [for them] to anchor our team,” said Chery Tiggo head coach Aaron Velez
Dacoron led all scorers with 13 points off of six blocks.
Santiago-Manabat followed suit with 12 points built on 10 attacks, a block, and an ace while the returning Santiago had 11 points on seven attacks and four aces for Chery Tiggo.
Jasmine Nabor dished out 16 assists laced with four points while Buding Duremdes tallied 10 excellent digs and four receptions.
Chery Tiggo wasted no time in the opening set, running over PLDT through the troika of Santiago-Manabat, Dacoron, and Layug who poured six in the squad’s 8-2 blitz. After an error marred rout through the second technical timeout, Chery Tiggo staved off a late PLDT run to take a 25-20 set.
Santiago-Manabat took charge anew for the Crossovers, pouring six points in the 25-17 second set win to put her squad a set away from clinching the match. A Layug off the block attack and an attack error from Joyce Sta. Rita, respectively, ended the set.
No one reached double figures in scoring for the Power Hitters.
Isa Molde ended up with eight points on seven attacks and an ace while Christine Soyud chipped in seven points in the loss.
Cherry Tiggo is now at the top of the standings with a 1-0 card while PLDT dropped to a 0-1 slate.
The Crossovers will look to make it two in a row against Cignal at 6:00 PM on Monday while the Power Hitters will try and bounce back against Sta. Lucia on the same day at 3:00 PM.
