Chery Tiggo’s Eya Laure.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Chery Tiggo, sans star Mylene Paat, overcame a rocky opener to turn back a young but gritty Farm Fresh side, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Crossovers felt the absence of leading scorer Paat, who was in uniform but didn’t play due to a swollen right foot — an injury she sustained after the Invitational Conference, as they were pushed to the limits by the Foxies before prevailing in one hour and 31 minutes.
Chery Tiggo withstood a 10-18 deficit in the third set with Cess Robles scoring half of the team’s eight straight points to tie the set after Pauline Gaston won the joust. Farm Fresh regained the lead after rookie setter Louie Romero delivered a 1-2 play for a 22-20 breather.
EJ and Eya Laure drilled back-to-back hits followed by two consecutive attacks from Imee Hernandez to put the Crossovers at match point, 24-22, before team captain EJ nailed the game-clinching off-the-block hit.
Eya powered the Crossovers with 14 points including an ace and a block. EJ contributed 13 points and nine excellent receptions, while Robles provided the spark off the bench with 10 points.
Chery Tiggo’s EJ Laure.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“I trusted coach Aaron when he subbed me in. I grabbed the opportunity given to me,” said Robles in Filipino. “It was a good match for us. Our floor defense and blockings were tested today.”
Setter Jasmine Nabor, who returned to Chery after a stint with defunct Foton last Conference, had 15 excellent sets, 10 digs, and three points from two aces, as Hernandez chipped in eight markers.
“I’m just happy that the players are healthy. We played well in the first two sets but I think we started slow in the third because of their determination,” said Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez. “We showed our jelling and we were able to pull it off in the third. I’m thankful to our players for pushing hard.”
The Crossovers averted a lethargic start, erasing a 15-20 deficit in the first set as the younger Laure nailed back-to-back hits to cap an 8-0 run for a 23-20 lead. Jasmine Nabor’s service error halted their rally before Laure hit another kill to reach set point, 24-21, followed by Jade Gentapa’s attack error to take the opening set.
Chery Tiggo broke a tie at 21 in the second set after Hernandez scored an ace to cap a 3-0 rally. But Trisha Tubu’s attack and a miscommunication error trimmed the Crossovers’ advantage to one, 24-23 before Robles came to the rescue to finish the set and take a two-set lead.
The Foxies, who were paced by Tubu’s 15 points, have yet to win a PVL game since their 0-5 finish in the Invitationals. Gentapa added 10 markers, while Romero debuted in the pros with 16 excellent sets and two points.
Chery Tiggo eyes its second win when it faces Galeries on Thursday, 3 p.m. at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City while Farm Fresh tries to bounce back against Choco Mucho at 7 p.m.