Chery Tiggo concludes 2024 run with win against Galeries Tower

Chery Tiggo bounced back to the winning column after overpowering Galeries Tower in a five-set thriller, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-8, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference over the weekend at Philsports Arena.

The team led by Norman Miguel improved to a 4-2 win-loss record, while Galeries finished the year with a 1-5 record after losing in five sets for the seventh time in 15 conference losses.

"It was a real effort from everyone. During the first three sets, it was like that, our moves weren't right, it seemed clumsy. But it came out in the fourth set," said Chery Tiggo’s ace Cess Robles during the postgame interview.

The Crossovers’ victory was bannered by Robles, who registered a game-high 21 points anchored on 20 attacks and an ace along with 11 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.

Captain Aby Maraño contributed a 15-point output, while Pauline Gaston, who assisted the team clinch the fourth set, scored a total of 14 markers.

Jen Nierva took care of Chery Tiggo’s defense with 21 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions as Jas Nabor orchestrated the team’s play, tossing 13 excellent sets.

Gaston’s several attack points helped the Crossovers rally to a 9-2 run from 16-14 deficit in Set 4, tying the match at two sets apiece.

"What sticks in my mind is what Coach Norman said last game: 'One's point, everyone's score. Then one's error, everyone's error.' So in relation to what Princess said, it was really our whole team effort," Gaston said.

In the decisive round, the Crossovers ramped up to a 12-5 lead when Galeries Tower made a mistake and lost 13-7 after back-to-back points from Jho Maraguinot and Ysa Jimenez.

Robles ended the two-hour and 26-minute match by bringing Chery Tiggo to match point with two consecutive smart moves.

Meanwhile, France Ronquillo top scored for the Highrisers, tallying a total of 18 points, while Jewel Encarnacion and Jiminez recorded 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Alyssa Eroa’s 26 excellent digs, Julia Coronel’s 12 excellent sets and Encarnacion’s 11 excellent receptions all went down the drain in the losing cause.

Both teams will return on January 21 in the same Pasig venue as Chery Tiggo aims to continue its winning ways when they battle Petro Gazz, while Galeries faces Cignal in the first match.