By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Games today (Thursday)
4 p.m. – Nxled vs Farm Fresh
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs ZUS Coffee
The Chery Tiggo Crossovers secured a trip to the quarterfinals after taking down the Farm Fresh Foxies in four sets, 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, during their Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Play-In stage on March 11, 2025, at the Philsports Arena.
Fresh off a resounding sweep over the NXLED Chameleons to move a win away from another playoff qualification, Chery Tiggo gave their all in their final Play-In match to bag one of the two available quarterfinal seats.
The Crossovers gained the much-needed momentum after edging Farm Fresh in the marathon first set when they barely escaped with a two-point advantage.
With the game on the line, Chery Tiggo relied on the veteran experience of Shaya Adorador who provided the clutch hits in the final crucial stretch of the back-and-forth opener.
Adorador scored back-to-back hits that put Chery Tiggo in set-point, before Ilongga Princess Robles delivered the final blow to help the Crossovers nab a 1-0 lead.
Exhausted from that first-set action, Chery Tiggo’s level of play dipped down in the following set, allowing the pumped-up Farm Fresh squad to bounce back in a lopsided fashion with a double-digit lead.
Chery Tiggo kicked off the second set with a series of unforced errors and rewarded the Foxies with three early freebies that set the tone early on for the younger team.
Despite a late flurry from Adorador, Farm Fresh pulled off another huge run in the end, led by Trisha Tubu who rediscovered her hitting stroke heading to the third set.
Just when Farm Fresh thought they could sustain their two-way efficiency, the Crossovers flipped the switch in the third and relied on their emphasized middle-blocking defense.
When their defensive execution was already set, their offense just fell into place, featured by a barrage of backline attacks and clever drop balls to separate them, 2-1.
It was all Chery Tiggo in the fourth and final set after building a six-point lead midway and never looked back to seal the deal.
Adorador became Chery Tiggo’s catalyst in the win as the seasoned outside hitter capped off the match with an all-around performance of 18 points built from 16 successful attacks, 13 excellent digs, and 11 excellent receptions.
With the victory, Chery Tiggo will go back to the drawing board before returning to the PVL court on March 18, 2025, as they begin their quarterfinal quest against the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Thunderbelles Edge HD Spikers
ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles secured a thrilling 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12 victory over the Cignal HD Spikers, moving closer to clinching the final quarterfinal spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Play-In at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Former Cignal standout Chai Troncoso led the charge with 21 points, including decisive back-to-back hits in the fifth set that sealed the win for the Thunderbelles. “This victory means so much to us. We just kept fighting and drawing strength from each other. We knew we had to win this to keep our chances alive,” said Troncoso.
The win improved ZUS Coffee’s record to 1-0 in Pool A of the Play-In phase, earning them two points. A straight-sets or four-set victory against the Capital1 Solar Spikers in their upcoming match would grant them the maximum three points, securing their spot in the quarterfinals—a remarkable turnaround for a team that struggled earlier in the season.
Head coach Jerry Yee’s unconventional coaching style has been instrumental in the Thunderbelles’ resurgence. Known for his calm demeanor, Yee focuses on quiet observation rather than vocal instructions. “Masaya, masayang-masaya, yun lang (Happy, very happy—that’s all),” he quipped after the match, highlighting his satisfaction with the team’s performance.
Team captain Jovelyn Gonzaga emphasized the importance of resilience, especially after dropping the fourth set. “Ang mindset namin ay bilog ang bola. We know na kaya namin, isinapuso namin ang bawat puntos kaya naman nag-worked as a team (Our mindset was that the ball is round. We knew we could do it; we put our hearts into every point, and that’s why we worked as a team),” she said.
The Thunderbelles’ journey has been marked by strategic roster enhancements. The addition of veteran players like Gonzaga and Troncoso, along with the acquisition of top draft pick Thea Gagate, has bolstered the team’s competitiveness. Gagate’s height and blocking skills have been pivotal, especially against taller opponents in the league.
As ZUS Coffee prepares for their crucial match against Capital1, the team remains focused on their goal. “Si Lord, ang family ko, mga teammates at coaches ang motivation namin. Hindi kami makakarating dito kung hindi dahil sa kanila (God, my family, my teammates, and our coaches are our motivation. We wouldn’t have made it this far without them),” said Chinnie Arroyo, who contributed 20 points in the match.
The Thunderbelles’ upcoming showdown against the Solar Spikers is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Philsports Arena. A win would not only secure their quarterfinal berth but also validate their season-long efforts and the effectiveness of Coach Yee’s leadership.
