April 17 ------ CHERY Tiggo crossed over PLDT, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20, to ride on an all-important five-game win streak in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena. Eya Laure went full throttle for the semis-seeking Crossovers with 12 points on nine attacks and three blocks to snap the High-Speed Hitters’ five-game unbeaten run.
The Crossovers forged a four-way tie for second place with Petro Gazz, PLDT, and defending champion Creamline at 7-2 (win-loss) ahead of their last two prelims matches in what will be a photo finish for the top four places. "Collective effort talaga 'yung kung paano kami nanalo (ngayon versus PLDT). Lahat ginagawa kung ano 'yung trabaho nila. Isa (ito) sa mga pinaka-magagandang nangyayari. Nagkakamali, slow start, pero eventually, na-rerecover namin kung anong meron kami. "'Yun ang pinaka-magandang nangyayari sa ngayon kasi kung ano 'yung in-eensayo namin, nag-rereflect kung paano kami maglaro. Pero 'yung dedication ng mga players kasi, sila talaga ang gumagana diyan. Sila ang nagta-trabaho ng lahat," said Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes.
EJ Laure (10 points) and Ara Galang (nine points) drove past a troubled PLDT side and had the lion's share of the Crossovers' 38 attacks, eight blocks, and two aces. Such a strong offensive showing in the one-hour, 40-minute straight-sets contest was paired with just 18 unforced errors. Emotions ran high for the High-Speed Hitters but Savi Davison's game-high 22 points and 10 receptions fell flat without a reliable scoring support. Majoy Baron had the second-best points total with just six markers on four attacks and two blocks.
Kath Arado threw her best shot on floor defense with 16 digs and 10 receptions but couldn't deny a red-hot Chery Tiggo offense. Although the Crossovers trail the four-way logjam with an inferior match points total and set ratio, they can make the most of a favorable two-game closing stretch versus Akari and Galeries Tower. It only gets tougher from here on out for PLDT as its final two matches will be against its fellow semis-seeking sides in sister team Cignal and defending champion Creamline.
Source: spin.ph