Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

News

Creamline grabs Game One with late surge


Officially without star hitter Alyssa Valdez for the rest of the tournament, the Creamline Cool Smashers gutted out a five-set win, 25-19, 13-25, 28-26, 18-25, 15-7, to begin their best-of-three PVL Women’s Open Conference semifinals series against the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

With the league’s four time MVP watching from the bench, the Cool Smashers weathered Bali Pure’s steady advances in each set.

With the match tied at a set apiece, Bali Pure started the third set strong, controlling the action with their gritty effort. Grethcel Soltones brought the Water Defenders to set point, 24-20, signaling Creamline’s resurgence. The Cool Smashers pulled clutch hits from Ging Balse and Rose Vargas. With Bali Pure falling silent, Creamline forced a deuce and took the lead in the match after Rizza Mandapat crushed two blockers.

Creamline were eventually pushed to a fifth set, where they overwhelmed their younger foes. Pulling energy from Rose Vargas, Creamline buried Bali Pure in an 8-1 hole and never looked back.

Cool Smashers assistant coach Oliver Almadro considered his squad the underdogs who showed their indomitable will to win.

“We were playing against all odds. We just promised each other that we will not be afraid. Basta, happy-happy lang,” Almadro stressed. “We were missing Alyssa but we had so many players who stepped and showed they were ready. Ngayon, we need to prepare for tomorrow. Whatever opportunity we’re given, we need to grab it.”

Vargas finished with 19 points, while Pau Soriano managed 18.

Creamline can enter the Finals for the first time in franchise history with a win tomorrow.

#ReadMore  Bali Pure draws first blood in dominant Game One showing

Jerrili Malabanan and Grethcel Soltones each pitched in 19 points for Bali Pure.

The Scores

Creamline (3) – Vargas 19, Soriano 18, Mandapat 11, Racraquin 11, Balse 10, Remulla 6, Bravo 0, Cabanos 0, Morado 0, Nunag (L)

Bali Pure (2) – Malabanan 19, Soltones 19, Nabor 13, Sato 13, Urdas 12, Mendiola 3, Cayuna 0, Oliveros 0, Pantone (L)

Written By

Miguel Luis Flores fell face first into sports writing in high sch9l and has never gotten up. He reluctantly stumbled into the volleyball beat when he started with Tiebreaker Times three years ago. Now, he has waded through everything volleyball - from its icky politics to the post-modern art that is Jia Morado's setting.


You May Also Like

News

Creamline’s heart and soul, Alyssa Valdez, could not help but be emotional after what she had witnessed at the conclusion of the 2024 Premier...

News

“Sabi nga ni coach, ako na lang ‘yung may bala.” These were the words Jema Galanza lived by in the deciding fifth set of...

News

Erica Staunton contributed significantly to Creamline’s back-to-back championships in the Premier Volleyball League, making her one of the most decorated imports to ever play...

News

For the third straight year, Creamline’s bid for the first-ever Grand Slam in Philippine volleyball history met with adversity. In the 2022 Reinforced Conference,...

News

Now a seven-time champion coach in the Premier Volleyball League, Sherwin Meneses never forgets the people involved in this triumph, from top to bottom....

News

After Jia de Guzman left for Japan to join the Denso Airbees, Kyle Negrito found herself at the center of attention—both the highs and...

News

Kyle Negrito claimed the Finals MVP award after orchestrating Creamline’s hard-fought 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13 victory over Cignal, securing the first-ever grand slam...

News

The Creamline Cool Smashers would not be denied this time around. After a narrow miss in their first attempt, Creamline achieved what no other...

Advertisement