Tots Carlos and Bernadeth Pons finished what Michele Gumabao and Alyssa Valdez had started, propelling Creamline past Petro Gazz in a grueling five-set match on Thursday evening.
Despite coming off the bench, Carlos and Pons provided the spark that the Cool Smashers needed in the fourth set when the Angels threatened to win the game.
For head coach Sherwin Meneses, it was just circumstances that had placed the former University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University top guns on the bench at the beginning of the game, and he hesitated to label them as “bench players.”
“Sobrang saya ko kasi yung team namin nagdedeliver lahat, yun naman yung importante para pagdating sa crucial match, tulungan talaga,” said Meneses after their epic 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13 escape at the Philsports Arena.
“Thankful kami kasi yung mga bench player namin, actually hindi sila bench player talagang sila lang siguro yung may opportunity na tumapos ng laro, nagdeliver talaga.”
Gumabao tallied 19 points while only playing in the first three sets, while Valdez got eight points in four, serving as a substitute in the fourth set.
Meanwhile, Carlos unleashed 16 points despite coming off the bench in the first three sets before staying on the court for the entire fourth and fifth sets. Pons added eight points in two sets.
The three-time league MVP shared her conversation with Pons when their numbers were called for the fourth set with Creamline trailing.
“Before kami pumasok ni Pons, sabi namin sa isa’t isa na ang kailangan lang naman baguhin is the mood of the team so yun, we started with the happy-happy, with the enjoyment of the team and yun nagtuloy tuloy naman,” said the 25-year-old Carlos. .
However, she was quick to emphasize that their turnaround was not achieved by her and Pons alone. All six players on the court, as well as those on the sidelines, made contributions that may not always show up on the stat sheet.
“I think it was not just me and Pons. I think it was the whole team. We just really helped the team na malabas kung ano yung tinitraining namin.”
Pons, for her part, wanted to produce for Creamline, especially against the veteran-laden Petro Gazz.
She shared that prior to joining the defending AFC champions last conference, she always watched the games between the Cool Smashers and the Angels intently because it was almost certain that it would be a battle to the end.
This was her first time facing Petro Gazz, as they had not crossed paths in the past Invitationals. They were in different groups, and the Angels did not advance to the round-robin semifinals.
“Going into this game naman talaga, gusto ko talaga na maipanalo itong game na ito, first ko rin na makalaban yung Petro Gazz so before napapanood ko lang sila, lagi talagang match ang Creamline at Petro Gazz so gusto ko rin maexperience yung kung paano yung labanang Creamline at Petro Gazz,” said Pons, a beach volleyball standout.
“Yun nga talagang expected ko talaga na hindi rin talaga basta basta yung Petro Gazz kasi veteran team sila. Lagi naman ako nakamindset na kapag hinugot ako ni coach, kailangan talaga magcontribute ako sa team and tutulong talaga ako.”
