Down one import, the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors played splendidly to open their match Tuesday afternoon but had to muster a gritty effort to quell the Creamline Cool Smashers in five sets, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 18-25, 15-11, for their second Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference quarterfinals win at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Warriors opened a five-point lead in the first set, 16-11, then had to catch a few breaks in the endgame to take a 1-0 sets lead. Pocari Sweat took a bigger lead in the second set, 10-4, but the Cool Smashers managed to come within two, 16-14, before succumbing to another endgame collapse.
En route to their first straight set victory since the first round of eliminations, the Lady Warriors reception and attack collapsed in the following two sets, opening the door for Creamline to break into another five-setter.
“Sakit naman ng halos lahat ng team ‘yung mag-relax kapag lamang na nang dalawang sets. We’ve been working on that pero it seems we still have a lot to improve,” said Pocari head coach Rommel Abella.
After dropping the fourth set in disappointing fashion, the Lady Warriors came out of the decider ablaze, catching a stream of points that took to a 9-4 advantage. Though Creamline kept the match close, miscues in the most crucial point of the match cost them direly. In the final point of the match, the Cool Smashers seemingly gave up on coverage after they thought Alyssa Valdez’s hit went straight into the net. The ensuing confusion encapsulated much of Creamline’s struggle for the season.
“Good thing, nabawi namin noong fifth set na nga lang, pero at least nabawi namin,” Abella added.
American import Michelle Strizak powered Pocari Sweat with 30 points while Myla Pablo and Desiree Dadang added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Lady Warriors can clinch a semis seat with a win on Thursday against the Perlas Spikers.
Three-time PVL MVP Alyssa Valdez and Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin each provided 19 markers for the Cool Smashers.
Creamline sink to an even 1-1 quarterfinal record. They take on Air Force on Thursday.
The Scores
Pocari Sweat (3) – Strizak 30, Pablo 12, Dadang 11, Nepomuceno 11, Panaga 3, Sy 3, De Leon 1, Espelita 0, Kasilag 0, Gohing (L)
Creamline (2) – Kaewpin 19, Valdez 19, Galanza 7, Soriano 4, Cabanos 3, Remulla 1, Bravo 0, Racraquin (L)
