BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR
AT A GLANCE
Chery Tiggo came through with clutch plays as it outhustled Petro Gazz, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, March 21.
Chery Tiggo came through with clutch plays as it outhustled Petro Gazz, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, March 21.
Mylene Paat stepped on the crunch with hard-hitting kills for the Crossovers that unlocked them from 11-all in the pivotal fifth set en route to their fourth win in six games.
The victory, which came on the heels of its morale-boosting three-set upset victory over fancied Creamline, also tied Chery Tiggo with its victim at fifth place.
Paat exchanged attacks with Petro Gazz hitter Jonah Sabete late in the match including a pivotal off-the-block spike that gave Chery Tiggo the 14-13 matchpoint advantage.
But a crucial attack error from Sabete that went long sealed the 2-hour, 31-minute match in the Crossovers’ favor.
Paat finished with 10 points built on three blocks, while Eya Laure steered Chery Tiggo throughout with 15 points highlighted by 14 kills.
Ara Galang played in the first three sets and finished with 12 points, while EJ Laure came off the bench in the second frame and went on to contribute 10 points. Ponggay Gaston was equally impressive by unloading all her nine points on attacks.
Brooke Van Sickle exploded for 27 points while Sabete erupted for 22 points for Petro Gazz, but their efforts went futile as Chery Tiggo also banked on its net defense by posting 13 blocks.
