The Araneta Coliseum erupted Friday, August 29, night as Kobe Shinwa delivered one of the most breathtaking comebacks in PVL history, clawing back from two sets down to shock Chery Tiggo and punch their ticket to the PVL Invitational Finals. What seemed like a routine sweep for the Crossovers turned into a five-set classic, with the Japanese side completing the miracle rally, 21-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-6.

For a team known for its rapid-fire offense, Kobe Shinwa showed a different dimension — grit, composure, and refusal to quit. At the heart of their turnaround was setter Sakura Furuta, who shook off a shaky start to orchestrate the offense with poise, finishing with 33 excellent sets and three points. Her playmaking steadied a squad that could have folded, but instead dug deeper when the lights shone brightest.

“In the first and second sets, I was very nervous, so I couldn’t deliver good balls to my spikers,” Furuta admitted through an interpreter. “But by the third set, I found my rhythm and got my game back. I’m just thankful we were able to win.”

Komatsuda leads the charge

Nagisa Komatsuda turned in the performance of her tournament, exploding for 31 points in a show of relentless firepower. Kokoro Yasuma backed her up with 16 markers, while Arisu Ishikawa added 11. Timely contributions from Reira Miyazaki and Yuia Yamano gave head coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto the balance he needed in crucial moments.

Momentum swung after Kobe Shinwa narrowly escaped defeat in the extended third set. What once looked like a Chery Tiggo cruise flipped into a collapse, as the Crossovers struggled to contain the Japanese attack. In the decider, Kobe Shinwa surged after an early deadlock and never looked back, sealing the two-hour, two-minute shocker on Ishikawa’s check ball kill.

Chery Tiggo collapses under pressure

Chery Tiggo entered determined to avenge their PVL On Tour Finals heartbreak against PLDT, and for two sets, they looked unstoppable. Ara Galang powered the Crossovers with 19 points, supported by EJ Laure Robles’ 18 and Imee Hernandez’s 17 markers, including five blocks. But the Crossovers’ composure unraveled once Kobe Shinwa forced a fourth set, and they could not recover from the momentum shift.

While Chery Tiggo dominated the blocking battle, 13-3, Kobe Shinwa’s relentless attacking barrage — a 73-55 edge in total attacks — proved decisive. Komatsuda and Yasuma struck blow after blow, breaking the Crossovers’ defense and confidence until there was nothing left to hold back the tide.

The Japanese squad now advances to the PVL Invitational Finals, where they face PLDT — the very team that swept them in the preliminaries. This time, however, Kobe Shinwa enters armed with momentum, confidence, and the battle scars of a team that has already stared down the brink of elimination and refused to fold.

Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, must settle for a bronze medal match against the Creamline Cool Smashers, their championship hopes erased by an opponent that simply refused to bow.

Kobe Shinwa’s comeback was more than just numbers — it was proof that heart, hustle, and resilience can turn the impossible into reality. From near defeat to Finals contenders, the Japanese squad has transformed themselves into the story of the tournament.