With their Premier Volleyball League (PVL) quarterfinal hopes hanging by a thread, Cess Robles and Shaya Adorador refused to back down.
The duo took charge for Chery Tiggo, delivering a clutch performance that kept their team in contention in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Fueled by desperation and determination, Robles and Adorador spearheaded the Crossovers' sweep of Nxled on Thursday, carving out a 25-22, 26-24, 25-12 victory that propelled them a step closer to securing the lone quarterfinal berth in Pool B of the play-in round.
“Sa’kin (dapat) wala ng doubt. Kasi ito na ‘yun eh, ito na ‘yun. Kailangan lang naming gawin ‘yung trabaho namin para makuha namin ‘yung goal namin,” said Robles, a former National University standout, who embodied the team’s all-or-nothing mentality.
Their performances spoke volumes. Robles showcased her all-around prowess, finishing with 15 points, nine excellent receptions, and seven excellent digs. Adorador, a reliable force for the Crossovers, delivered 14 points and anchored their floor defense with 11 excellent digs.
The win snapped Chery Tiggo’s four-game skid—a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their do-or-die clash against Farm Fresh.
“Mindset namin talagang killer instinct pa rin na sana madala namin siya into Farm Fresh game. And yung teamwork pa rin namin, makinig lang sa coaches and talagang pag nauna na, kailangan pukpukan na kasi hindi na talaga biro yung games na 'to. All-out na po,” Adorador emphasized, highlighting their unwavering focus.
The struggles that pushed them to the brink weren’t lost on the team. Robles admitted that their loss to Choco Mucho in the qualifying round exposed their offensive inconsistencies, particularly among the wingers—an issue they worked tirelessly to address leading up to the play-in stage.
“Nung last game namin nagkulang kaming mga hitter so kailangan namin mag-work out. ‘Yun ‘yung tinrabaho namin sa training, as in pasa, palo, block kaming mga wingers. Maganda naman ‘yung kinalabasan ngayong game,” she shared.
Now, with just one more hurdle standing between them and a quarterfinal ticket, Adorador remains optimistic. She believes their chemistry and resilience will carry them through the crucial stretch.
“Nakikita ko sa team namin na kahit na down kami, hindi kami nagwawatak-watak, lalo na ‘yung mga players,” said Adorador.
"Siyempre, kami ‘yung magkasama sa loob ng court, at siyempre, mas nakikita namin ‘yung everyday na struggle. Pero alam namin na malalampasan namin ‘yun with each other, na magkakasama."
