Chery Tiggo sweeps Choco Mucho in semis rubber match, sets up finals duel with Creamline

Chery Tiggo is moving on to the championship round after a sweep of Choco Mucho, 25-16, 26-24, 25-23, in Game 3 of their best-of-three semifinals in the 2021 PVL Open Conference Tuesday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center.

The Crossovers were quick to impose their dominance in the opening set as a quick attack by veteran middle blocker Maika Ortiz handed them the frame, 25-16.

The Flying Titans, though, put up a fight in the second set as a hammer by lefty Caitlyn Viray went through the defense of Chery Tiggo's Jaja Santiago, putting them at set point, 24-22.

Kim Gequillana, however, faulted on her serve, 24-23. Santiago then had an ace followed by a cross court attack from her sister, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, as Crossovers got the lead back, 25-24.

The second set formally went to Chery Tiggo after an attack fault by Kat Tolentino, 26-24.

Errors continued to hurt Choco Mucho in the third set as another miscommunication cost them the shot at a finals seat and Chery Tiggo took it, 25-23. 

Chery Tiggo's main playmaker, Jasmine Nabor, played big time in the do-or-die match after she recorded three aces and 28 excellent sets.

The Crossovers will face Creamline in the finals with Game 1 slated for Wednesday, August 11. Choco Mucho, on the other hand, will battle it out for third place against PetroGazz also tomorrow.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News