CHERY Tiggo reached its first PVL finals for the first time in four years as it stopped Cignal in its tracks, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, in the 2025 PVL on Tour knockout semifinals on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ara Galang hit the game-winning kill to cap her 15-point performance built on 14 attacks and one block.
The Crossovers are back in the PVL Finals for the first time since the 2021 Open Conference where they were crowned the league’s first pro champions during the pandemic in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
"Sobrang saya ng nararamdam ko. Ngayon siguro mag-eenjoy pero onto the next na rin," Galang said.
"Ayaw ko ring tumigil dito. Nasa finals na kami so 'yung opportunity, gusto ko lang talaga i-grab."
Jas Nabor, the team's pioneer setter who is one of three holdovers from their 2021 title run, dished out 21 excellent sets to send Chery Tiggo back to the finals.
Even better than that title-winning conference in Nabor's view is how the Crossovers have a more balanced pool of talent on hand.
"Masasabi ko siguro ngayon na lahat kami pantay-pantay. Walang senior, walang rookie, lahat sumusunod. Kahit bata man magsalita sa'min, lahat nakikinig kaya sobrang open kami. Kung sinumang nasa loob ng court, sobrang tiwala kami," Nabor said.
Cess Robles also had a triple-double of 15 points, 11 digs and 11 receptions, with Imee Hernandez adding 12 markers and rookie winger Renee Penafiel pitching 10.
This year, Chery Tiggo had to take the long way round after failing to secure an outright preseason playoff spot in the preliminaries.
It had to beat Galeries Tower in the knockout round first before pulling the plug on Nxled’s dream run in the quarterfinals.
An error-plagued Cignal side, with seven of 21 faults in the first set alone, couldn't keep up with Chery Tiggo's full-throttle attack despite mounting a late 6-2 run in the fourth frame that just fell short of forcing sudden death.
Will it be CCS or PLDT for Chery Tiggo?
Its forthcoming finals trip also marks an end to its three-year, nine-conference podium drought where it will take on either its last title rival in Creamline or a still-unbeaten PLDT side.
Since their 2021 title win, the Crossovers only managed to finish fourth place at best in three occasions during the 2022 Reinforced, 2023 Second All-Filipino and 2024 All-Filipino Conferences.
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