MANILA– Chery Tiggo Crossovers stayed alive in the 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference semifinals after a 25-18, 25-22, 26-24 Game 2 sweep of Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Monday at Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat top-scored with 19 points, including 16 attacks, while younger sister Jaja Santiago dropped 13 markers, including the match-clinching service ace as the Crossovers forced a do-or-die Game 3 this afternoon.
Mylene Paat chipped in 10 markers, while Ma. Shaya Adorador had nine points and 13 excellent receptions. Beatriz Duremdes drilled 27 digs and 10 receptions.
The Crossovers trailed early in the opening set at 5-1 yet bounced back on straight points by Santiago-Manabat for an 8-5 advantage. Attacks from Santiago-Manabat, Santiago, and Paat widened the lead to 18-9. The Flying Titans rallied to trim the deficit to 16-19, but consecutive errors seconded by attacks from Santiago, Santiago-Manabat, and Paat allowed the Crossovers to prevail.
In the second set, Chery Tiggo went on with its rampage and surged to an 11-4 start, with back-to-back hits from Santiago, Santiago-Manabat, and Adorador to score 16-15. The gap swelled to 24-20 as Choco Mucho clawed to within 22-24, but a spike from Santiago gave the Crossovers a 2-0 set lead.
Both teams kept the scoring close early in the third set, with the Flying Titans clinging to 8-7 before the Crossovers went on a scoring run courtesy of Santiago-Manabat and Santiago for a 16-11 advantage. The Flying Titans scraped the deficit to 20-21 late in the fourth set, but a series of errors and a quick kill by Santiago turned the Crossovers’ lead to 23-20.
The Crossovers committed three straight errors for a 24-all deadlock. Santiago then unloaded a quick attack and scored the two points, including a game-winning service ace, to send the match to a winner-take-all game.
Kat Tolentino led the Flying Titans with 14 points, which drew first blood in the best-of-three semifinals series with a straight-set Game 1 triumph on Sunday night./PN
