Chery Tiggo slams Galeries Tower

Chery Tiggo barely broke a sweat rolling to a second straight victory after sweeping newcomer Galeries Tower, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

As expected, sisters EJ and Eya Laure did most of the damage but it was Ces Robles who came off the bench late in the third set and delivered the finishing touches for the now league-leading Crossovers.

Chery Tiggo turned to Robles, who had 10 markers in a straight-set win over Farm Fresh last Tuesday, in the closing stretch of the third frame to repulse the Highrisers' fightback.

The National University product scored all of the Crossovers' last three points including the game-winning hammer down the middle. She finished with three points.

Returning setter Jasmine Nabor, who hooked up with Chery Tiggo after one conference with the club's disbanded sister team Foton, also had a great outing dishing out 14 excellent sets to go with seven points.

"I'm really happy with how the players performed. We were able to stick to our (game) plan and not look into the result but to see where our chemistry is right now," Crossovers coach Aaron Velez said.

"As planned, whoever gets fielded must be able to keep up with the pace of those leading the team. I think we're on point on that."

EJ Laure had an all-around game, filling the stats box with 15 points including 13 kills along with nine digs and four excellent receptions for Chery Tiggo, which displayed a solid net defense with 11 kill blocks.

Eya Laure finished with 12 markers she collected from nine attacks, three kill blocks and an ace while Shaya Adorador chipped in seven points.

The Crossovers were able to build separation midway of all the sets. Chery Tiggo led, 13-7, in the third before the Highrisers behind Dimdim Pacres patiently trimmed down their deficit to 21-20 after her off speed hit.

Jaycel Delos Reyes quickly answered with a power tip off an overreception before Robles scored on a kill block against Pacres and a crosscourt kill.

Rap Aguilar saved a match point but Robles was there to quell an uprising.

Galeries Tower absorbed its second defeat in as many outings.

Pacres was the lone Highriser in double figures with 11 points while Anne Esguerra and Julia Ipac combined for eight markers.