History was made as the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, led by the ever-reliable Santiago sisters, crawled their way back from two sets down and emerged as the first-ever champions of the first professional volleyball league in the country.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat poured her heart out as she exploded with a game-high 32 points to go along with 15 excellent digs, while Jaja Santiago blew up with 26 markers off 22 kills and four blocks to lift the Crossovers and emerge victorious in the three-peat seeking Cool Smashers.

“I just want to thank the Lord for giving me strength,” said a tearful Manabat.

Down two sets to none, the Crossovers never wavered as Dindin delivered at the right time, nailing hits after hits from all angles that include a massive spike that hit Valdez’s shoulder and saw her apologize at 23-15 cushion.

At 24-17 in favor of the Crossovers, Creamline rallied a mini 4-0, 24-21, which saw the Crossovers having a hard time closing the set until Paat scored through to make it to the fourth set.

Creamline tried to control the early game of the fourth canto but Manabat and Santiago were just unstoppable as they kept breaking into the Cool Smashers defense with powerful crosscourt hits from Manabat and high-percentage quick hits from Santiago.

Tied at 23-all, Jaja and Dindin hammered down to close the set and force a decisive fifth set. 

Come the fifth and most important set, Creamline struggled to break into the defense of the Crossovers where the latter managed a 5-0 run with a 9-2 cushion. 

Valdez tried to deliver and rallied her teammates one last time to cut the deficit into 3, 11-8, but this was not enough as the Crossovers pulled away for good with another 4-0 spurt capped by Santiago’s quick attack off a Jasmine Nabor feed and seal the win. 

Jasmine Nabor dished out 34 excellent sets and 4 points while libero Buding Duremdes manned the floor with 26 digs and 20 excellent receptions.

Tots Carlos top-scored Creamline with 22 points off 15 attacks, five kill blocks, and two aces but became silent in the late, crucial sets while Valdez ended with 17 points.

Jia Morado, who was awarded as the Best Setter of the league, displayed 47 excellent sets on top of 19 digs.

Risa Sato and Jema Galanza contributed 14 points apiece with the latter adding 30 excellent receptions and 20 digs.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5 Santiago was hailed as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and the Finals MVP trophy to give the franchise its first-ever championship title after five years. 

“There’s nothing impossible with God, we just have to trust ourselves, trust one another and trust God,” Chery Tiggo head coach Aaron Velez said after winning the championship title.

“I want to congratulate also Creamline you know that they have the experience in this kind of level but thank God, we really offer this to God and He guided us and we showed what we are made of,” he expressed.