CHERY Tiggo EV’s PVL Reinforced Conference campaign is finally up and running with its first victory over Galeries Tower, 25-9, 25-16, 25-23, on Thursday at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
The breakthrough win ends the Crossovers’ three-game slump to begin import-laden play.
Cuban spiker Yuni Batista dropped a 20-point bomb to register her first win in the Philippines. Ara Galang then spearheaded the local core with 11 points and six digs ahead of Cess Robles' five markers.
"Masaya ako sa team, especially sa third set dahil bumalik ‘yung dating character namin na kailangan naming kumapit at tapusin ‘yung game," said head coach Norman Miguel, as their win drought has now been quenched.
"Sinabi ko lang sa kanila na wag talagang mag-give up at wag ma-disappoint dahil mahaba pa 'yung tournament and 'yung format niya is tuloy-tuloy lang. Ayaw kong makita sa kanila na nada-down sila. Iniiwasan ko 'yun eh. Kailangan lang talaga maging matibay for that."
No chance for Highrisers
Recurring double-digit leads as big as 12 in the first two frames set the tone early for an erstwhile winless Chery Tiggo EV side.
It wasn’t until the start of Set 3 where the Highrisers had a taste of the lead at 2-1. They managed to keep the third canto close and even reached the 20-point mark for only the third time in the group stage.
But at 22-all, Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorador’s clutch hits and an attack error from Galeries Tower’s Montenegrin import Jelena Cvijovic put the match away in straight sets.
Gaston wound up with a steady 10-point outing built on eight attacks and two blocks.
As for the Highrisers, there were no signs of life, as it was even setter Ivy Perez who top-scored with seven points. Cvijovic also added 17 receptions.
Making things worse were the 20 errors they committed in a brief contest compared to just eight from the Crossovers.
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