Creamline was on the verge of sweeping Chery Tiggo in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Monday night.
That, until EJ Laure led the Crossovers huge bounce-back win in the third frame which extended the to a fourth set.
Down was the Cool Smashers after losing their momentum in that period. Luckily for them, the team’s seventh man was in attendance to lift their spirits up.
“Sobrang na-miss din talaga namin sila and binigyan nila kami ng energy to keep on pushing lalo na nung fourth set,” expressed Alyssa Valdez after the team’s four-set win against the defending champions on Monday. “Siyempre madodown ka talaga, yung momentum nasa amin na nung third set, medyo kinapos talaga pero fourth set, with their help, napakasarap sa pakiramdam na talagang we’re getting there also and talagang nag-eenjoy yung mga fans.
“It’s been two years without our seventh man. We’re so happy hearing them as we’ve said even nung practice pa siyempre ‘di ba coach iba rin, magugulat din talaga kami with all the noise, cheers. Pero at the end of the day I think nag bigay din talaga sila ng confidence sa amin,” she continued.
When the dust settled, Creamline — with its legion of fans cheering behind them — took out Chery Tiggo, 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19, to enter the semifinals of the Open Conference.
Locked at 16-all in the frame, Valdez ignited a 6-2 rally to put a 22-18 cushion for the Cool Smashers. From there, Tots Carlos took over, unleashing two consecutive hits before Jeanette Panaga put up the finishing kick.
“Nakakapanibago kasi for the longest time we’re in quarantine period. Seeing people at the end of the day, may anxiety pa rin but we welcome everyone, ‘di ba?
“Yung protocols naman are there so we’re just really happy na nageenjoy din tayong lahat, nageenjoy sila. Sports is something that unites people so we’re just so happy na makita sila. Na-miss nating lahat,” said Valdez.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses echoed Valdez’s statement, saying that the fans indeed played a pivotal part in the victory in the fourth set win.
“Malaking advantage sa Creamline kasi maraming fans ang Creamline. Tama nga si Alyssa sila yung bumuhay ng fourth set kasi medyo down nga nung third set so malaking factor yung fans specially for Creamline,” said Meneses.
