CHERY Tiggo forged a three-way tie for third place in a heated semifinals race after taking down Cignal in three hard-fought sets, 26-24, 25-20, 26-24, in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday.
Eya Laure led the Crossovers with 16 points built on 11 attacks, three aces and two blocks as Chery Tiggo drew level with Petro Gazz and defending champion Creamline at 6-2 (win-loss).
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Cignal slid to solo sixth at 5-3 with three elimination round matches remaining.
"'Yung game itself, parang cardiac game kasi nga dulo-dulo lang nagkakatalo. Puro breaks of the game so siyempre, 'yung respeto namin dun sa Cignal team, alam namin kung gaano kalakas yung team, kung gaano ka-competitive. Luckily, tumatama 'yung galaw namin doon sa dulo," said Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes.
Sharp scoring displays were aplenty for the Crossovers, powered by a triple-double outing from EJ Laure with 16 points, 13 digs and 11 receptions, Jen Nierva's 20 excellent digs and Alina Bicar's 12 excellent sets.
Ara Galang also rose to the occasion with 11 markers to extend Chery Tiggo's win streak to four -- one that began since pulling off a major upset over the Cool Smashers in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last month.
Former league MVP Ces Molina paced what could be a decisive defeat for the HD Spikers with 16 markers and was the lone Cignal ace in double figures.
Still to come for Cignal are fellow title contenders Petro Gazz and PLDT and cellar-dwelling Capital1, while Chery Tiggo looks to seal its semifinals berth against PLDT, Akari and Galeries Tower.
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