PVL: Chery Tiggo spoils F2 Logistics’ debut as locals step up

Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Chery Tiggo pounced on the depleted F2 Logistics, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22, in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.

Mylene Paat and EJ Laure formed a potent combo to spoil Kalei Mau’s PVL debut for the Cargo Movers, who missed the services of Lindsay Stalzer after the American import entered the health and safety protocols last week and libero Dawn Macandili due to an undisclosed injury.

Paat led the Crossovers with 16 points, all coming from attacks, while Laure delivered 11 points, including the last three points of their 7-0 run in the first set, where they erased a 23-18 deficit to draw the first blood.

“We’re really happy because the locals performed well. We had a good start in the first set and we were able to sustain it in the last two,” said Chery Tiggo coach Clarence Esteban in Filipino. “We took advantage of their (undermanned) line-up because some of their players didn’t play their original positions.”

Chery Tiggo’s Montenegrin import Jelena Cvijovic was held to just six points, but she had 10 excellent receptions and seven digs. Setter Jasmine Nabor dished out 13 excellent sets on top of three markers, as Czarina Carandang added seven points.

Chery Tiggo’s Montenegrin import Jelena Cvijovic. –PVL PHOTO

“She (Cvijovic) is still adjusting. But in the end, she got her rhythm. She was just F2’s target but she was able to help our team with her service and defense. She just needs to adapt the style of play here in the Philippines,” Esteban said

The Crossovers scored eight straight points in the third set to fight back from a 14-12 deficit. Paat pushed her squad at match point, 24-19, before the Cargo Movers saved three straight points but committed a reception error that spoiled the club’s return in the PVL after skipping the Invitationals.

Chery Tiggo, which is seeking to bounce back from back-to-back eighth place finishes in the first two conferences, guns for its second win against Cignal (1-0) on Saturday.

Mau was the lone double-digit scorer for F2 Logistics with a game-high 20 points built on 17 attacks and three aces as her team gave up 26 errors. Kianna Dy had nine points, while Ivy Lacsina added seven markers in her PVL debut.

Outside spiker Ara Galang and middle blocker Aby Marano played as liberos in the absence of Macandili.

Stalzer will be cleared from the league’s health and safety protocols on Wednesday, while Macandili didn’t give a timetable on her injury as the Cargo Movers battle the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday at the same venue, 5:30 p.m.