Creamline freezes late Iriga push for 9th win

Keeping up with the top of the Premier Volleyball Legue Open Conference, the Creamline Cool Smashers locked down their ninth win after quelling the Iriga-Navy Oragons, 25-12, 25-13, 26-24, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

Creamline barely faced resistance from Iriga in the first two sets. The Oragons then found their groove in the the third set, and leaned on hot-hitting Graziella Bombita and Florence Madulid to take a 20-17 lead. Alyssa Valdez brought the Cool Smashers to a tie, 20-all, before Iriga stayed on pace and dragged the match to a deuce.

From there, Creamline looked to Jema Galanza to deliver two of their last three points, including a sharp cross-court hit to close the match.

“Lumabas talaga ‘yung laro ng Iriga noon dulo. I can’t say na our team was complacent din,” said Valdez of the Oragons’ late run. “Luckily for us late na sila uminit. We need every win din kasi sobrang dikit ng laba sa standings. You really can’t tell where everyone will end up.”

The four-time league MVP tallied 13 points, while Galanza finished with 12 markers.

Bombita and Madulid each finished with five markers.

On Saturday in Cagayan De Oro, Creamline (9-2) will face the BanKo Perlas Spikers (9-3) in a match with heavy implications on the final seeding. Iriga (3-10) end their season on Sunday against the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors (5-7).

The Scores

Creamline (3) – Valdez 13, Galanza 12, Gumabao 11, Mandapat 5, Sato 5, Soriano 5, Morado 3, Bravo 1, Maninang 1, Morado 0, Cayetano 0, Atienza (L), Gohing (L)

Iriga-Navy (0) – Bombita 5, Eguia 5, Madulid 5, Acuna 3, Ramas 3, Bautista 2, Guyguyon 2, Bunag 1, Martinez 1, Amaro 0, Agno (L), Ticar (L)