Chery Tiggo Surges Past PLDT in Four Sets

Games Tomorrow (Thursday)

4 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs. ZUS Coffee

6:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs. Akari

Chery Tiggo opened with a fiery start and closed with a decisive finish, defeating PLDT 25-12, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22 to claim solo third in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.

Entering with a mixed record, the Crossovers were considered underdogs against the High Speed Hitters, who had confidently swept their first three matches. However, Chery Tiggo delivered a stunning performance, showcasing title aspirations.

The Crossovers dominated the opening set, overwhelming PLDT with relentless aggression. While a straight-set win slipped away in the third frame, Chery Tiggo’s resilience came through in the fourth set. Trailing 17-19, they mounted a late rally, outwitting PLDT in a tense finish.

Setter Alina Bicar orchestrated Chery Tiggo’s offense, recording 15 excellent sets that kept PLDT’s defense guessing. Her precise distribution allowed multiple attackers to thrive, countering the High Speed Hitters’ depth, led by Savi Davison.

Libero Jen Nierva anchored Chery Tiggo’s defense with 17 digs and 16 receptions, earning Player of the Game honors.

“I came into the match well-prepared, studying all of PLDT’s tendencies,” said Nierva. “This win shows our hard work, but we know there’s still room for improvement.”

Cess Robles led Chery Tiggo with 17 points, dominating the first two sets. Support came from Ara Galang, Shaya Adorador, and Pauline Gaston, who combined for 34 points to complement Robles’ efforts.

PLDT’s Davison delivered a match-high 27 points, while Erika Santos chipped in 13. Dell Palomata, Majoy Baron, and Fiola Ceballos contributed nine, seven, and six points, respectively.

Despite losing the spiking battle 50-52 and struggling in blocks 4-12, Chery Tiggo capitalized on PLDT’s service reception errors, scoring eight aces while conceding none. They also converted 33 unforced errors into free points, committing just 18 of their own.

Chery Tiggo’s aggressive start forced a series of errors from PLDT in the opening set, including a set-ending service fault by Baron. In the second set, they showed poise under pressure, overturning a 22-23 deficit with three consecutive points to secure a 2-0 lead.

PLDT fought back in the third set, displaying the grit that defined their earlier wins. However, their momentum faded in the fourth set as Chery Tiggo’s strategic adjustments and clutch plays sealed the victory.

“We’re taking it one game at a time,” Nierva added. “Our goal is to keep improving and make our community proud.”