PVL: Chery Tiggo stays alive in semis hunt, eliminates Petro Gazz

Chery Tiggo’s Alina Bicar. –PVL PHOTO

STA. Rosa, Laguna — Chery Tiggo kept its dimming semifinals bid alive after ousting Petro Gazz, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference on Thursday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex here.

Setter Alina Bicar shone in her first start dishing out 13 excellent sets as four Crossovers scored in double figures and outplayed the Angels in attacking, 53-38, to end a three-game skid and stay in the hunt for the next round.

Bicar, who played sparingly last Saturday’s loss to Cignal coming off the health and safety protocols, also had 11 digs and five points in her first full game for Chery Tiggo, replacing Jasmine Nabor in the starting six.

“We’re happy and grateful because we still have a chance to contend for the next round. Our team is almost complete. We’re slowly executing the strategies that we wanted to do,” said Chery Tiggo head coach Clarence Esteban in Filipino.

“Nothing is impossible. We just have to keep on working and do the right things for us to get more wins,” he added.

Shaya Adorador led the team’s balanced attack with 15 points. EJ Laure was also instrumental with 13 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Mylene Paat and Czarina Carandang added 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Chery Tiggo’s EJ Laure. –PVL PHOTO

Adorador joined hands with Laure in the third set to give their team a 23-19 lead and never looked back in closing out the match in 90 minutes as Chery Tiggo improved to a 1-3 record.

“Our coaches remained confident in our team despite losing the first three games. Their trust and confidence motivated us to give our all (in this game) and push harder in training,” said Adorador in Filipino.

Libero Buding Duremdes also returned to action with 20 digs after missing the first three games.

Petro Gazz, which reached the Open Conference finals last April, bombed out of semis contention with its fourth straight loss.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas lifted the Angels with 12 points and eight receptions, while MJ Phillips, Remy Palma, and Grethcel Soltones added seven apiece.