PVL: Chery Tiggo drives past Zus Coffee, boosts bid for Finals spot

MANILA, August 27 ------ Chery Tiggo has boosted its drive for a final berth in the 2025 PVL Invitational. This, as the Crossovers rolled past Zus Coffee, 25-17, 25-17, 25-23, in their preliminary match at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The Crossovers win, concluding the double-header, formally eliminated Creamline, Zus Coffee, and Cignal from title contention in the preseason contest.

Only Kobe Shinwa University remains to be in the fight, hoping to play the role of spoiler to an On Tour Final rematch between Chery Tiggo and PLDT. But Jen Nierva and company are eager to prove that this Chery Tiggo roster is better now and more consistent than ever. "I think now, medyo nafi-figure out namin kung paano kami maglaro together. And we're not only leaning to one player to score for us; but it's collective effort of everyone," said the Alas Pilipinas libero after the game. "Nakita namin nung On Tour, it showed na nagiging effective 'yung system, effective 'yung teamwork namin, 'yung program ng coaches, and ngayon dito sa Invitational, we're getting closer again to playing in the Final. So hopefully, ma-sustain namin and 'yung consistency mapakita namin on Friday's game," Nierva added.

She anchored the Chery Tiggo defense, listing 19 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs to earn the Player of the Game honors, shutting down the offense of Kate Santiago, Fiola Ceballos, and Chai Troncoso from the other side. Cess Robles was the only Crossover in twin-digit territory with 17 points, but Zus Coffee errors helped the winning side's scoring, giving up 18 compared to Chery Tiggo's 10. Ara Galang had nine points, while rookie Renee Penafiel delivered eight markers.

The Thunderbelles still played without their core of Jov Gonzaga, Thea Gagate, AC Miner, among others. Chery Tiggo's last assignment in the preliminaries is Kobe Shinwa, scheduled for Friday, while Zus Coffee takes on red-hot PLDT on Thursday.

Source: spin.ph