The Chery Tiggo Crossovers came back from two sets down against the Creamline Cool Smashers, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8, to win the 2021 PVL Open Conference crown on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at the PCV Socio Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Chery Tiggo’s Dindin Manabat-Santiago unloaded for a game-high 32 points and sparked the Crossovers’ comeback in the third set. Her sister, Jaja Santiago, and the rest of the team joined in from there up to the fifth set.
Santiago finished the match with 26 points to back Santiago-Manabat for the Crossovers.
Alyssa Valdez led the losing squad with 17 points, while Risa Sato and Jema Galanza each contributed 14 hits.
“I just want to thank the Lord for giving me strength,” Santiago-Manabat said as the Chery Tiggo Crossovers celebrated the improbable win at center court.
It was a fitting end to the 2021 PVL Open Conference final with Creamline taking the first game and Chery evening things up in the second match to set up the winner-take-all game.
The 6-foot-5 Santiago was adjudged the PVL Conference and Finals MVP. She headlined the All-Premier team that also included Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado of Creamline, Ria Meneses, Myla Pablo and Kath Arado of Petro Gazz, and Kat Tolentino of Choco Mucho.
(PTV News)/ BNY-rir
