Crossovers clobber Chameleons, enter semis

Chery Tiggo reminded Nxled — and the rest of the field — that the playoffs are a completely different battlefield.

With a masterclass on both offense and defense, the Crossovers crushed the once-surging Chameleons, 25-17, 25-15, 25-20 on Saturday at the Philsports Arena to book a semifinal seat in the PVL On Tour and a coveted berth in the upcoming Invitational Conference.

Leveling up when it mattered most, the 2021 pro champions showed poise, precision and power.

The Crossovers didn’t just outplay the Chameleons — they overwhelmed them, applying pressure from the get-go and never letting up, ending the match with Mary Rhose Dapol’s hit that sealed the clinical one-hour, 25-minute sweep.

Breaking away from the usual list of Best Player of the Game awardees, libero Karen Verdeflor stole the spotlight with a stellar performance, tallying 16 excellent digs with a 55 percent efficiency rate, effectively neutralizing multiple attacks from Nxled and playing a key role in the Chery Tiggo Crossovers’ dominant win.

“This win is a huge energy and confidence booster for us heading into the semifinals,” Verdeflor said calmly during a rare moment in the limelight.

There was no magic formula behind their triumph, Verdeflor, who also finished with six receptions, added — just solid execution and trust in their system.

Verdeflor also credited their composure as a major factor in the one-sided win.

Now comfortably settled in the Final Four, the Crossovers can afford a brief breather before facing the Cignal HD Spikers in a high-stakes knockout duel for a seat in the Finals. And while the stakes are higher, Verdeflor remains laser-focused and grounded, once again deferring to the team’s game plan.

With veterans seamlessly blending with the rookies, the Crossovers dominated the Chameleons in all departments, overpowering them in attacks, 50-33, edging them in blocks, 6-4, and capitalizing on 15 free points off their opponents’ errors. Chery Tiggo, on the other hand, limited its own miscues to just 11 unforced errors.

Cess Robles once again led the Crossovers’ charge, finishing with 12 points. She received solid support from Ara Galang and rising star Renee Peñafiel, who both tallied 11 points apiece. Middle blocker Imee Hernandez also made her presence felt with 10 points, anchoring the team’s net defense.

Meanwhile, Jasmine Nabor, Aby Maraño, Jyne Soreño and Erika Deloria contributed a combined 14 points, rounding out a well-balanced offensive performance.