PVL: Chery Tiggo outlasts Black Mamba-Army, nears 7th place finish

Jaja Santiago and Chery Tiggo Crossovers. PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Dindin Santiago-Manabat unleashed 32 points as Chery Tiggo staved off a gritty Black Mamba-Army, 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25,  15-12, to move on cusp of taking the seventh place in Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Licking the wounds of their quarterfinal lost to runner-up Creamline last week, Manabat lifted the Crossovers with 26 spikes, three blocks and three aces including 11 excellent receptions to deny the Lady Troopers’ comeback in a thrilling two-hour and eight-minute battle.

Mylene Paat also led the charge for Chery Tiggo with 22 points built on 20 attacks and two blocks on top of 20 digs.

Chery Tiggo, which was dethroned in the quarterfinals, will try to seal the seventh place against BaliPure on Tuesday at San Juan Arena.

The Crossovers flirted with disaster after taking the first two sets and blew a 13-10 lead in the fifth set after Royse Tubino’s back-to-back attacks to trim the lead to just one. EJ Laure delivered a clutch hit to put Chery Tiggo at match point, 14-12, before Jeanette Villareal committed a spiking error.

The Lady Troopers finished the classification with 1-1 record and will finish the tournament in the eighth place if Chery Tiggo beats Balipure on Tuesday.

Tubino powered Army with 25 points off 22 attacks and three aces. Joanne Bunag had 11 markers, while Villareal and Ging Balse-Pabayo added eight each.