Playing in her home city, Alyssa Valdez flexed her four-time MVP form, powering the Creamline Cool Smashers past the Adamson-Akari Lady Falcons in their final Premier Volleyball League Open Conference elimination round game, 25-7, 25-11, 25-10, in the Batangas Sports Coliseum.
The proud San Juan native poured in 19 points off 13 attacks, three blocks, and three aces to lead the Cool Smashers to their quickest win of the season.
Creamline end the elims with an 11-3 record. They set to face the Petro Gazz Angels in the best-of-three semis, which begins on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Cool Smashers are finally rounding into form after several players missed numerous matches throughout the season due to varying reasons. And Valdez feels like the Cool Smashers are now getting their bearings after a long season.
“The last time siguro na each of us played a season this long was when we were in the UAAP pa,” said the former Ateneo Lady Eagle. “For us, it’s been really important na we’re getting to spend more time to practice together and play together na rin. We have to be confident lang talaga kasi we know the Petro Gazz will be prepared for us.”
The Lady Falcons capped a tumutuous 0-14 conference with their least impressive effort, giving up 12 aces and only managing 17 points off spikes. Creamline also limited their errors to tournament record seven, while Adamson coughed up 17.
Team captain Eli Soyud tallied six points for the Lady Falcons, while Krich Macaslang and Ceasa Pinar added five each.
The Scores
Creamline (3) – Valdez 19, Galanza 8, Gumabao 8, Sato 8, Morado 6, Soriano 5, Cayetano 2, Bravo 1, Gutierrez 1, Cabanos 0, Maninang 0, Atienza (L), Gohing (L)
Adamson-Akari (0) – Soyud 6, Macaslang 5, Pinar 5, Genesis 3, Permentilla 1, Roque 1, Ave 0, Igao 0, Yandoc 0, Ponce (L)
