ZUS recovers in 5 to stun Cignal; Chery Tiggo books quarters spot

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Young ZUS Coffee continues to impress amid adversity in its five-set PVL play-in stunner of reeling contender Cignal, while Chery Tiggo avoids complications with a four-set win over Farm Fresh to book the tournament's seventh quarterfinal spot

MANILA, Philippines – ZUS Coffee took the slow-drip approach in keeping its PVL All-Filipino title bid alive, brewing up a five-set escape to scorch Cignal’s outright quarterfinal bid, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12, at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday, March 11.

Former Cignal reserve Chai Troncoso led young ZUS Coffee’s upset charge with 21 points and 17 excellent receptions, followed closely by a 20-point bomb from Chinnie Arroyo and 16 with 4 blocks from No. 1 overall pick Thea Gagate.

Clo Mondoñedo steered a masterful offense with 24 excellent sets in the win that put Cignal’s quarterfinal hopes out of its hands, as fellow former St. Benilde star Mich Gamit scored 13.

ZUS looked on the way to an easy win in the fourth set, powering ahead as far as 8 points, 15-7, before keeping a late 18-11 lead, helped up by multiple Cignal attack errors.

The HD Spikers, however, eventually fielded back a well-rested Vanie Gandler, who exploded for their last 6 points to cap off a stunning 14-5 rally and the 25-23 heist to force a deciding fifth frame.

The Thunderbelles nonetheless showed veteran poise in winning time, bucking a 6-3 deficit with a pivotal 9-3 swing to mount a 12-9 lead off a Jovelyn Gonzaga cross.

Though Cignal got as near as one, 13-12, Troncoso squeezed out the last drops of her energy to rise highest amid the two weary squads, bombing in the last two points to finally put a bow on the rollercoaster contest.

“I’m happy, very happy. Though there’s a bit of frustation since we almost had it in the fourth set, but we hung tough in the fifth set so I’m still happy about the win,” ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee said in Filipino.

Gandler saw her heroic stand still fall short in the end, as she tied her pro career-high with 23 points in the loss that put the HD Spikers at a 1-1 record in the play-in group. Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuña backstopped the losing effort with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

As a consolation, Cignal still got one game point by forcing a five-set match for 4 total, thus eliminating the Capital1 Solar Spikers (0-1) from the running.

So even with a sweep of ZUS Coffee in its last match to force a triple tie at 1-1, Capital1 will still only finish with a maximum of 3 game points, one short of Cignal.

Chery Tiggo beats the light, clocks in quarterfinal spot after 4-setter over Farm Fresh

The Chery Tiggo Crossovers avoided complications in their own playoff journey, claiming the seventh quarterfinal spot with a 2-0 play-in record after ousting the Farm Fresh Foxies (0-1), 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, and the idle Nxled Chameleons (0-1) in the process.

Veteran Ara Galang continues to turn back the clock, posting a game-high 20 points on 16 attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 ace in the win, followed by 18 points from Shaya Adorador with 13 digs and 11 excellent receptions, and 13 markers from Cess Robles.

Trisha Tubu paced the loss with 22 points, backstopped by a trio of 12-pointers from Jolina dela Cruz, Rizza Cruz, and Lorene Toring.

The eighth and final quarterfinal spot will be decided on Thursday, March 13, with ZUS Coffee making the cut should it trounce Capital1 in however many sets for a 2-0 slate. – Rappler.com