Chery Tiggo celebrates after scoring against Cignal HD. PVL Media.
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) Chery Tiggo rode the momentum of a tough opening set triumph to sweep Cignal HD, 27-25, 25-19, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Crossovers displayed their poise in an extended first set and fended off the HD Spikers in the next two frames to open their All-Filipino campaign on a winning note. Three players reached double-digits for Chery Tiggo, led by Shaya Adorador with 16.
Mylene Paat added 15 points and EJ Laure fired 13, as the Crossovers tallied a massive 57-35 advantage in kills against the HD Spikers.
"Ginawa lang po namin 'yung mga pwestuhan namin. Like libero, si Buding [Duremdes], talagang ginagawa niya 'yung part niya. 'Yung mga setter namin, binubuhay kaming mga spikers and 'yung mga middle blockers namin," said Adorador.
"Lahat yung nag-combine, and 'yung kinalabasan, naging maganda naman po," she added.
The Crossovers seized the momentum when they outlasted Cignal HD in the opening set, as a quick hit by Cza Carandang shattered a 25-all deadlock. A mishit by Cignal HD's Roselyn Dorian completed the hard-earned win for Chery Tiggo.
They then raced to a 7-0 lead in Set 2, but needed to survive a late charge by the HD Spikers led by Ces Molina. Carandang again came through with a big hit that wrapped up the Crossovers' 25-19 win in the second set.
In a nip-and-tuck Set 3, Chery Tiggo pulled away, 22-18, off a power tip by Jaycel delos Reyes then reached match point, 24-20, thanks to a cross court attack by Adorador.
The HD Spikers saved two match points, as Molina fooled the Chery Tiggo defense with an offspeed hit and Doria rejected an attack by Adorador. But Adorador was quick to make up for her miscue, firing the kill that ended the match after an hour and 38 minutes.
"It's really more about our composure. From the start, ang preparation namin, sabi namin sa isa't isa, our teamwork will be our force. Our camaraderie, our communication should be always on point, and 'yung tiwala sa isa't isa," said Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez, who is back in charge of the Crossovers.
Molina finished with 16 points while Ria Meneses added 11 for the HD Spikers. Cignal HD had a 10-5 advantage in blocks but were thoroughly outgunned by the Crossovers, as their offense was repeatedly foiled by Chery Tiggo's active defense.