Chery Tiggo’s Cess Robles during a game against Capital1 in the PVL on Tour preseason at Ynares Montalban in Rizal. – PVL PHOTO
MONTALBAN, Rizal — Chery Tiggo survived a winless but gritty Capital1, 20-25, 25-23, 25-12, 28-26, for a triumphant start in the PVL on Tour on Saturday at Ynares Center Montalban.
The depleted Crossovers turned to mainstay Cess Robles and rookie Jyne Soreño to win their first of two Pool B assignments here before facing Akari in less than 24 hours on Sunday at 4 p.m.
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Robles unleashed a game-high 17 points off 15 kills and two blocks with nine digs, as No. 8 pick Soreño delivered 15 points to survive the Solar Spikers in a two-hour match.
Chery Tiggo saved two set points in the fourth off Pauline Gaston and Ren Peñafiel’s clutch attacks to tie the game at 25-all, followed by three costly attack errors in the last four points from Trisha Genesis, Sydney Niegos, and Shola Alvarez.
The Crossovers trailed 16-19 in the fourth after Robles was blocked twice by Capital1 rookie Pia Abbu, but the former scored atoned and hit four consecutive points to tie the game at 20 before Soreño kept the frame tied at 23-all.
“I’m happy because we won, and the game was really tense. Our team’s composition is different now, and our rookies performed well with the support of the seniors,” said Chery Tiggo coach Norman Miguel in Filipino. “Personally, I’m glad that the things we’ve been working on in training are starting to show in our games, even just a bit. Of course, there’s still a certain level we want to reach in our game.”
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“But since it’s only our first game, we’ll get there as we go through the process. Overall, I’m really happy, especially because we won our first game.”
Third-round pick Ren Peñafiel chipped in 11 points and five excellent receptions for Chery Tiggo, which missed veterans Ara Galang, Cza Carandang, Joyme Cagande, Mylene Paat, Risa Sato, and Alas Pilipinas libero Jen Nierva
Imee Hernandez returned from a knee injury after missing the action for 20 months and chipped in eight points as a starter in the first three sets.
After falling short in the opening set, Chery Tiggo erased a 20-22 deficit off Trisha Genesis’ back-to-back errors, followed by Hernandez’s go-ahead hit for a 23-22 lead before Alvarez’s equalizing combination play.
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Robles and Soreño put on the finishing touches of the second set to tie the game to one set apiece. The Crossovers had a 13-point domination in the third with Gaston being the closer.
Capital1 remained winless in three games, as first overall pick Bella Belen watched and cheered for her teammates while sitting out with Jorelle Singh, Jerrili Malabanan, Nikka Yandoc, and Julia Ipac.
Alvarez and Genesis led Capital1 with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Niegos had 10 points from the bench.
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The Solar Spikers hope to bounce back against ZUS Coffee on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
