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Kobe Shinwa Stuns Chery Tiggo With Epic Comeback; Marches To PVL Finals
Photo credit: PVL
In a night that will be remembered as one of the most dramatic turnarounds in PVL history, Kobe Shinwa clawed its way back from the brink of defeat to stun Chery Tiggo, 21-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-6, and book a spot in the Finals of the PVL Invitational Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday.
For two sets, the Japanese guest team looked nothing like the fluid, fast-striking squad fans had come to know. They were rattled, out of rhythm, and seemingly headed for a quick exit. But when everything pointed to a Chery Tiggo sweep, Kobe Shinwa found its fight.
At the heart of the revival was setter Sakura Furuta, who admitted she was gripped by nerves early on. “In the first and second sets, I was very nervous, so I couldn’t deliver good balls to my spikers,” she confessed through an interpreter. “But by the third set, I found my rhythm and got my game back.”
Once Furuta settled, the entire team followed. She finished with 33 excellent sets and three points, but more than the numbers, it was her poise and steady hand that fueled the comeback. From then on, Kobe Shinwa dictated the rallies, defended with grit, and attacked with purpose.
The turning point came in the extended third set, when the Japanese clawed back from 21-23 down, with Nagisa Komatsuda and Kokoro Yasuma stepping up in the clutch. Their late heroics not only denied Chery Tiggo a sweep but also completely flipped the momentum of the match.
By the fifth set, Kobe Shinwa was in full command. After an early deadlock at 2-all, they unleashed a decisive run that left the Crossovers scrambling. Komatsuda’s crafty shots and Yasuma’s steady scoring opened the floodgates, before Arisu Ishikawa sealed the deal with a check ball kill to complete the two-hour, two-minute stunner.
Komatsuda turned in her best performance of the tournament with 31 points, while Yasuma added 16, Ishikawa 11, and contributions from Reira Miyazaki and Yuia Yamano rounded out a balanced attack.
On the other side, Ara Galang led Chery Tiggo with 19 points, supported by EJ Robles with 18 and Imee Hernandez with 17. Despite their strong numbers, the Crossovers collapsed in the face of relentless Japanese pressure, unable to regroup after losing grip of the fourth set.
The loss was especially bitter for Chery Tiggo, who came into the match seeking redemption after last conference’s finals heartbreak. Instead, they now settle for a bronze medal battle against Creamline.
For Kobe Shinwa, however, the victory was more than just about advancing—it was redemption of their own. After being swept by PLDT earlier in the week, the young squad showed that they can dig deep, adapt, and rise when it matters most.
On Sunday, they face that same PLDT squad in the championship. This time, though, Kobe Shinwa will walk in not as the underdogs who were humbled days ago, but as a battle-tested team that proved heart and resilience can turn the impossible into reality.
For two sets, the Japanese guest team looked nothing like the fluid, fast-striking squad fans had come to know. They were rattled, out of rhythm, and seemingly headed for a quick exit. But when everything pointed to a Chery Tiggo sweep, Kobe Shinwa found its fight.
At the heart of the revival was setter Sakura Furuta, who admitted she was gripped by nerves early on. “In the first and second sets, I was very nervous, so I couldn’t deliver good balls to my spikers,” she confessed through an interpreter. “But by the third set, I found my rhythm and got my game back.”
Once Furuta settled, the entire team followed. She finished with 33 excellent sets and three points, but more than the numbers, it was her poise and steady hand that fueled the comeback. From then on, Kobe Shinwa dictated the rallies, defended with grit, and attacked with purpose.
The turning point came in the extended third set, when the Japanese clawed back from 21-23 down, with Nagisa Komatsuda and Kokoro Yasuma stepping up in the clutch. Their late heroics not only denied Chery Tiggo a sweep but also completely flipped the momentum of the match.
By the fifth set, Kobe Shinwa was in full command. After an early deadlock at 2-all, they unleashed a decisive run that left the Crossovers scrambling. Komatsuda’s crafty shots and Yasuma’s steady scoring opened the floodgates, before Arisu Ishikawa sealed the deal with a check ball kill to complete the two-hour, two-minute stunner.
Komatsuda turned in her best performance of the tournament with 31 points, while Yasuma added 16, Ishikawa 11, and contributions from Reira Miyazaki and Yuia Yamano rounded out a balanced attack.
On the other side, Ara Galang led Chery Tiggo with 19 points, supported by EJ Robles with 18 and Imee Hernandez with 17. Despite their strong numbers, the Crossovers collapsed in the face of relentless Japanese pressure, unable to regroup after losing grip of the fourth set.
The loss was especially bitter for Chery Tiggo, who came into the match seeking redemption after last conference’s finals heartbreak. Instead, they now settle for a bronze medal battle against Creamline.
For Kobe Shinwa, however, the victory was more than just about advancing—it was redemption of their own. After being swept by PLDT earlier in the week, the young squad showed that they can dig deep, adapt, and rise when it matters most.
On Sunday, they face that same PLDT squad in the championship. This time, though, Kobe Shinwa will walk in not as the underdogs who were humbled days ago, but as a battle-tested team that proved heart and resilience can turn the impossible into reality.
Aug 29, 2025
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