Ara Galang and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers celebrate after beating Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL on Tour. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Chery Tiggo reached the PVL on Tour final after knocking out the revamped Cignal, 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Crossovers are returning to the championship game for the first time since the league’s maiden pro tournament in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in 2021, when they took down the Creamline Cool Smashers in three games.
READ: PVL on Tour: ‘Low-key’ Chery Tiggo making preseason noise
Chery Tiggo battles the winner of Creamline-PLDT knockout semisfinals game in a winner-take-all preseason final on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Crossovers ended a four-year finals drought in front of their former MVP Jaja Santiago, who has been supporting their On Tour matches.
Ara Galang tossed in 15 points, including the game-winning kill. She is set to play in her first-ever championship game in the pros.
READ: PVL on Tour: Chery Tiggo stops Nxled to reach semifinals
Galang waxed hot in the fourth set, drilling consecutive kills to mount a 16-10 spread.
Chery Tiggo squandered a 22-16 lead in the fourth, as Heather Guino-o and Erika Santos made it a one-point game, 23-22.
Imee Hernandez sent the Crossovers to match point, 24-22, but Santos saved one for Cignal, before Galang soared for the clincher.
“Honestly, I’m super proud of the whole team, our players, my fellow coaches, even the PTs. I’m just really happy because it hasn’t been easy lately. Especially in the past few days, some players couldn’t attend training because they were sick or injured, But we managed it, and this is the result. I’m just really thankful to God,” said Chery Tiggo coach Norman Miguel in Filipino.
“From my past championship experiences, one thing that really stands out is connection. Building a strong connection with the players is so important. What matters most to me is being able to really connect with the players, to understand them deeply, and to make sure we’re on the same page. That’s it.”
Jasmine Nabor, the one holdover from the last Chery Tiggo championship player from the 2021 Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble activated in this semis game, dished out 21 excellent sets and dropped five points.
Cess Robles also scored 15 and tallied 11 digs and 11 excellent receptions. Hernandez had 12 points, highlighted by four blocks, while third-round pick Ren Peñafiel added 10 points.
Karen Verdeflor protected the floor with 16 receptions and 15 digs to overcome Santos’ 26-point explosion and beat the HD Spikers for the second time this preseason.
In the third set, the Crossovers erased an 11-5 start with a 10-1 run capped by back-to-back blocks from Robles and Hernandez for a 15-12 lead.
Jackie Acuña sparked the HD Spikers tying the set at 19-all before two consecutive errors from the Crossovers maintained the deadlock at 21. Nabor’s 1-2 play ignited Chery Tiggo’s four unanswered points to take a 2-1 match advantage.
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Cignal’s two losses came both from Chery Tiggo, as it is relegated to the bronze medal match despite Erika Santos’ 26-point explosion. Ishie Lalongisip had 13 points and 11 receptions.
