MANILA – Chery Tiggo Crossovers sent the 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference finals to a sudden death Game 3 after a 25-18, 17-25, 25-16, 25-21 Game 2 win over Creamline Cool Smashers last night in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Jaja Santiago spearheaded the offense with 25 points on 20 attacks, three blocks, and two service aces, as the Crossovers stretched the best-of-three titular showdown to a do-or-die Game 3 at three in the afternoon today.
Chery Tiggo kicked off the match with a 10-7 lead behind Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Maika Ortiz. Creamline kept the game close at 15-16, but Santiago and Ortiz connived on offense to build a 25-18 first set score.
However, the Cool Smashers bounced back in the second set for an 18-11 advantage on hits by Diana Carlos, Jessica Galanza, and Risa Sato. Miscues by the Crossovers down the stretch allowed Creamline to take the second frame and knot the set count at 1-1.
Creamline surged to 6-4 early in the third, but Chery Tiggo recovered with nine straight points from Santiago and Ma. Shaya Adorador to score 13-6. It grew further to 23-15 on consecutive points from Santiago and Joy Dacoron.
The Cool Smashers were ahead anew at 16-15 in the fourth frame. The Crossovers then banked on attacks by Santiago for a 24-20 lead. Alyssa Valdez pulled one back for Creamline, but Santiago-Manabat answered with a kill to clinch the win.
Meanwhile, Petro Gazz Angels sealed the bronze medal after a 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 straight-set victory over Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 2 of the best-of-three bronze medal series.
Facing a Flying Titans crew that opted to field its reserve players, the Angels went on a rampage in the first set behind conversions from Myla Pablo and Gretchel Soltones, followed by another lopsided set in the second frame courtesy of Frances Molina.
The third set was much closer, with the Angels going to its bench players, but they managed to maintain their cohesion and accuracy against the Flying Titans to wrap up the match.
Pablo top-scored for the Angels with 16 points, 14 of which were from attacks, Soltones, Molina, and Seth Rodriguez, combined for 18 points, while Marivic Meneses dropped two points in just two sets of action./PN
