MANILA – Chery Tiggo Crossovers overcame a flat start to score a 26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 25-12, 15-9 victory against Galeries Tower Highrisers in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference on Thursday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Alina Bicar emerged as Player of the Game after finishing with 16 excellent sets to go with four points, built on three attacks and a block, as the Crossovers secured a semifinals seat with their 9-2 win-loss slate.
“We are very thankful to our coaches who never stopped telling us what we lacked, and to my teammates who adjusted,” said Bicar. “Of course, the adjustments are still there and we continue to work on that.”
Eya Laure took charge for Chery Tiggo with 20 points, Victorinara Galang backed her up with 13 markers, Mylene Paat fired nine points and Ilonggas Princess Robles and Abigail Maraño and Czarina Carandang each scored seven points.
France Ronquillo led the way with 15 points, while Andrea Marzan and Norielle Ipac added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Highrisers capped off their campaign with a 3-8 win-loss slate.
Meanwhile, PLDT High Speed Hitters ended their campaign on a bright note as they pulled off a 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 27-25 stunner against defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers.
Savannah Davison finished with 27 points, built on 25 attacks, one block, and one service ace to go with seven excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions to be named Player of the Game for the High Speed Hitters.
After losing a tight opening set, the High Speed Hitters bounced back with a dominant 25-14 win in the second set before they pulled off a close 25-22 triumph in the third set to take a 2-1 set edge.
The Cool Smashers started the fourth set with a 14-9 lead, but the High Speed Hitters slowly clawed their way back until the forced a deadlock at 25-all before completing the upset with back-to-back points from Erika Santos and Davison.
“I think we came here with a mindset of risking it all and going all-out,” Davison said. “Unfortunately it was our last game of the (conference), but we did the best that we could and I am grateful that we showed up today.”/PN
