CHERY Tiggo gave Choco Mucho a dose of its own medicine with a 25-18, 25-22, 26-24 win to send their semifinals series to a deciding Game 3 yesterday in the PVL Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

A different Crossovers team showed up in contrast to Sunday night’s 18-25, 22-25, 21-25 series-opening loss that put them on the ropes.

Jaja Santiago completed Chery Tiggo’s straight sets romp with a match-clinching ace to level the best-of-three showdown at 1-1.

The do-or-die match will be held this afternoon with the winner advancing to the best-of-three championship series which will be played the following day.

Crossovers mentor Aaron Velez is bracing for a big Flying Titans fightback come Game 3.

“We just have to work harder and I think whoever is hungrier whose more aggressive that will to win I think might have that advantage. We just have to remain focused and take up from where we left off and continue fighting,” said Velez.

The Flying Titans were poised to extend the match after a Dindin Santiago-Manabat’s outside hit and a Kat Tolentino’s backrow kill forced the third set’s final deadlock at 24-24.

With the game hanging in the balance, Chery Tiggo turned to Jaja Santiago with a go-ahead kill before closing out the match with a service ace.

“Again, Choco Mucho gave us a good fight you can see they’re very aggressive also I just want to emphasize the ladies just need to be confident and they poured their hearts out for this match,” said Velez.

Redeeming herself from a nine-point outing in Game 1, Jaja Santiago finished with 13 points, including three blocks for the Crossovers.

For the second straight match, Santiago-Manabat took the scoring mantle for Chery Tiggo with 19 points, including three service aces, while Mylene Paat also came big with 10 points and 18 digs.

Libero Buding Duremdes also stepped up for the Crossovers with 27 digs and 10 receptions.

Kat Tolentino had 14 points, including two blocks, while Maddie Madayag tallied a match-best four blocks for a seven-point outing for the Flying Titans.