CHERY Tiggo, determined to rebound from its disappointing loss to Farm Fresh, pulled off a shocking 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 victory over defending champion Creamline yesterday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Santa Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex in Laguna.

The Crossovers ended the Cool Smashers’ 19-match winning run in style, as libero Jen Nierva, who collected 20 digs and 10 receptions, said that the club regrouped from last week’s 23-25, 22-25, 16-25 defeat to the Foxies.

“Masayang masaya po kasi, storytime: Back noong championship last conference, nanood po kami kasi hinintay namin kasi ang Best Outside namin iyan (Eya Laure). So nanood po kami ng entire game tapos sobrang amazed po kami sa Creamline,” said Nierva.

“Tapos napatanong ako, paano kaya namin matatalo ang Creamline. Kasi system-wise, solid ang sistema nila, attackers, defense, passing. Even kapag nagsa-scout kami sa kanila, hindi ko makita kung paano sila mabubutasan eh. So I’m just so happy na dumating kami sa point na nagkaroon kami ng jelling inside the court.

“Siguro yung familiarity, tapos with the help of our coaches, yung system na binago nila since the loss namin against Farm Fresh, talagang nakita namin, ramdam talaga ni coach Kungfu (Reyes).

Lahat ng coaches, sina coach Brian (Esquibel), coach Yani (Fernandez), nag-iisip sila kung ano gagawin natin kasi hindu puwedeng mangyari ulit na hangga’t meron tayong kakalabanin, meron tayong chance manalo. Hindi porke’t nasa itaas sila, sila yung panalo. Hindi. Kaya natin itong baguhin.

“Ayun nag-start sa coaches, nakita ko rin sa coaches, si Tyang Aby (Maraño), gumawa po siya ng way kung paano kami magsama-sama. We had two days ng team bonding and I think, that really helped the team to win this game,” the former National University standout added.

Later, Roma Joy Doromal had 14 points as Galeries Tower outlasted Capital1, 17-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10, to barge into the win column after four straight defeats.

“Sobrang importante sa amin, as in. Dito kami makakakuha ng kumpiyansa din namin. Lahat kami hungry for our first win,” said Highrisers setter Fhen Emnas, who lobbed 21 excellent sets and scored seven points.

The Cool Smashers looked disjointed in their first straight-set defeat in five years, as Nierva was responsible in parrying their attacks. Creamline was last swept by PetroGazz, 22-25, 24-26, 22-25, on May 26, 2019.

Eya Laure led Chery Tiggo’s assault with 14 points. She let out a big roar after hammering in an emphatic through-the-block blast that finished off the Cool Smashers.

“Siyempre kasi Creamline, sila yung nasa taas, kami yung nasa baba ngayon so sabi ng mga coaches, mas hungry dapat kami na abutin yung taas kasi sila yung champion. Pero nandun talaga yung respect,” said Laure.

Cza Carandang also outdid herself, backing Laure with 12 impact points, including a match-best three blocks, Ara Galang provided the needed firepower and scored 10 points that went along with six digs for the Crossovers.

Mylene Paat added nine points, while Maraño contributed two of Chery Tiggo’s nine blocks.

The Crossovers rose to 3-2, while the loss dropped the Cool Smashers to a 4-1 card. Creamline is now tied with PetroGazz in second spot, leaving Choco Mucho alone at the top with a 4-0 record.

Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Cool Smashers.

Graze Bombita added 12 points and more importantly, producing the match winner for Galeries Tower.

The Solar Spikers, meanwhile, absorbed a second straight loss, and the fourth overall in five matches.