Chery Tiggo upsets Creamline, forces a winner-take-all Game 3

An inspired Chery Tiggo outhustled Creamline, 25-18, 17-25, 25-16, 25-21, in Game 2 to extend their best-of-three final series in the 2021 PVL Open Conference Thursday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Ilocos Norte.

With the Crossovers' victory, a crucial Game 3 will still be played on Friday, August 13, to determine the league's first champion in the professional ranks.

After edging the Cool Smashers in the first set, where they unleashed 13 attacks and committed only six errors, the Crossovers had a slow tempo in the second frame as Creamline evened the match to a set apiece.

With the championship on the line, Chery Tiggo was quick to adjust in the third set after establishing a 16-10 lead off a runner attack by Joy Dacoron. A block by Jaja Santiago put them at set point but a quick from her sister, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, sealed it at 25-16.

The Santiagos continued their stellar showings in the fourth as Jaja drilled four straight points, 20-17, before a net touch fault was whistled against Elaine Kasilag, 21-19.

Shaya Adorador then hit an offspeed to bring them at match point, 24-20, as Dindin followed it with a backrow attack to cap off the victory, 25-21.

Santiago led the charge for Chery Tiggo with game-high 25 points off 20 attacks, three blocks, and two aces while Santiago-Manabat churned out 18 markers.

In the other camp, Alyssa Valdez paced the Creamline with 18 points while Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos poured 17 and 15, respectively.

In Game 1 on Wednesday, Creamline averted a late-game collapse after it prevented a comeback from Chery Tiggo, 25-15, 25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 15-7, to move a win away from another title.

But with the series now tied, Chery Tiggo head coach Aaron Velez said they will march into the sudden death Game 3 with boosted morale against a Creamline side hungry to add a title to their collection.

"Thank you, Lord. We were guided, God is with us," Velez said.  "The players were able to play as a team, work as a team, they gave encouraging words and we were able to boost each other's morale."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News