Chery Tiggo overwhelms Choco Mucho in Game 3, books PVL finals seat

 

Jaja Santiago and the rest of Chery Tiggo are in the finals of the PVL Open Conference. PVL Media Bureau

By Ricky Manliguis

MANILA, Philippines—Chery Tiggo booked their spot in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference finals after dousing cold water on Choco Mucho, 25-18, 26-24, 25-23, in the winner-take-all Game 3 at the the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte Tuesday.

The win propelled the Crossover, who lost Game 1 before recovering in the next two, to a date against the top-seeded Creamline Cool Smashers in the best-of-three finale starting Wednesday.  

Jaja Santiago cashed in 17 points on 15 attacks to spearhead the Chery Tiggo attack, while sister Dindin Manabat chipped in 16 and Mylene Paat eight. Jasmine Nabor issued 28 excellent sets along with three service aces. 

Shaya Adorador added seven points, but her 18 receptions were the turning point for the team, which also had 56 digs and 31 receptions overall.

The Flying Titans, eager to extend the game into a fourth set, staged a 7-0 run in the third set to turn an 11-15 deficit into an 18-15 lead on a Caityln Viray hit. It went back and forth from there, with Kat Tolentino hitting to knot the count at 23-all.

Paat then fired an off-the-block kill for match point, before an Adorador point caused Choco Mucho to commit an error to seal the game.

Choco Mucho will take on Petro Gazz in their own best-of-three series for the bronze also on Wednesday. Tolentino topscored with 12 points, all on attacks, even as Maddie Madayag and Viray tallied 11 and nine markers in that order. 

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