Chery Tiggo’s Jennifer Nierva.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Jen Nierva shone the brightest in Chery Tiggo’s huge upset of Creamline in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
It was Nierva’s steady outing protecting the floor that keyed in the Crossovers’ 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 victory over the defending champions on Saturday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The National University product was all over the floor for Chery Tiggo and tallied 20 digs and 10 excellent receptions as the Crossovers halted the Cool Smashers’ 19-game winning streak dating back to last conference. It was also Chery Tiggo’s first win over Creamline in three years.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
Nierva’s defensive masterclass earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week honor from March 12 to 16.
“I’m just so happy na dumating kami sa point na nagkaroon kami ng jelling inside the court. ‘Yung familiarity, tapos with the help of our coaches, ‘yung system na binago nila since ‘yung loss namin sa Farm Fresh, talagang ramdam ko na lahat ng coaches, nag-iisip talaga sila ano pang pwedeng mangyari kasi hindi ‘to pwede mangyari ulit,” said Nierva.
The loss was also the Cool Smashers’ first straight-sets defeat since 2019.
READ: Jennifer Nierva joins Chery Tiggo Crossovers in PVL
Nierva said toppling a formidable Creamline team is a daunting task but not an improbable feat.
“Nu’ng championship last conference, nanood kami (ng awarding) kasi hinintay namin, siyempre Best Outside (Hitter) namin (si Eya Laure). Nanood kami ng entire Game (Two) tapos sobrang amazed talaga ako sa Creamline,” Nierva said. “Then napatanong ako: ‘Paano namin matatalo ‘yung Creamline?’ Kasi system-wise ang solid ng sistema nila, attackers, defense, passing. Even kapag nagsa-scout kami sa kanila, hindi ko makita kung paano namin sila bubutasan.”
“Hangga’t meron tayong kakalabanin, meron tayong chance manalo. ‘Di porket nasa taas sila, sila na yung panalo, hindi. Kaya natin ‘tong baguhin,” added Nierva, who beat teammate Eya Laure, Petro Gazz’s Brooke Van Sickle, Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina and Akari’s Fifi Sharma for the weekly citation given by reporters regularly covering the PVL.
Chery Tiggo looks to take down another powerhouse in Petro Gazz on Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.