The Creamline Cool Smashers did not wait for the quotient to decide their final rank in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference
Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin and skipper Alyssa Valdez did most of the damage, as Creamline vanquished the Power Smashers, 25-20, 11-25, 25-20, 25-19, to clinch third place at the PhilSports Arena.
“We definitely wanted to want it especially for our imports. Kapag nakikita mo si Dawn (Kaewpin) and Lau (Schaudt), you can’t help but be energized with their desire to win. Siyempre, we wanted to send them off with a win din as a thank you na din,” said Valdez, who tallied 16 points off 10 attacks, one block, and five aces.
Kaewpin capped her season with another explosive performance, going off for 20 points.
The Cool Smashers recovered from a disappointing effort in the second set. It took a quick start in the third frame to jumpstart their takeover, permanently.
“Siguro, we really just played as a team and trusted each other. That’s what we always need to win and siguro that’s something we need to work on moving forward,” Valdez added.
Creamline started the season near the bottom of the league. Valdez had done most of the heavy lifting before the imports arrived late in the second round. Still, the Cool Smashers had to go through a gauntlet in the quarterfinals. They forced a Game Three against Bali Pure in the semis but ran out of steam in the end.
Kannika Thipachot marked 21 points for the Power Smashers, while her fellow Thai Hyapa Amporn added 16.
The Power Smashers headed into the semis as the second seeds but fell to defending champs Pocari Sweat in a heated three-game series.
The Scores
Creamline (3) – Kaewpin 20, Valdez 16, Schaudt 9, Soriano 7, Galanza 5, Cabanos 3, Racraquin (L)
Power Smashers (1) – Thipachot 21, Amporn 16, Prado 12, Pacres 7, Marzan 2, Arocha 0, Bicar 0, Guillema 0, Villegas 0, Galang (L), Gillego (L)
