Creamline secured the third seed after handing ZUS Coffee a harsh exit, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses utilized his bench, with Lorie Bernardo and Aleiah Torres playing extended minutes.
The reigning All-Filipino Conference champions ended the eliminations with a 6-3 record.
(c) PVL Images
“Ready naman kami dun sa lahat ng challenge na mangyayari. Ang importante lang talaga is yung determinasyon namin manalo, mag-focus sa ginagawa,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Lalo na knockout game lang yung mangyayari. So, trust lang namin sa isa’t isa para makuha namin yung quarterfinals,” he added.
After breezing through the first two sets, the Cool Smashers found themselves in a tight encounter with the Thunderbelles in the third.
The latter took a 21-19 advantage courtesy of a Bernadeth Pons service error and a Gayle Pascual cross-court hit.
Creamline then turned it up a notch as Erica Staunton blocked Pascual before Michele Gumabao capitalized on an over-receive. That kick-started a 4-0 run that also included back-to-back errors from Pascual.
With the Cool Smashers holding a 23-21 lead, Rose Vargas committed a service fault. Gumabao then hammered down consecutive hits to complete the quick one-hour, 17-minute victory.
Staunton led Creamline in scoring with 17 points on 15 attacks and two kill blocks. Meanwhile, Pons contributed 11 points, all on attacks, to go along with 12 excellent digs and six excellent receptions, rounding out her all-around performance.
Bernardo made the most of her opportunity and tallied eight markers, while Torres – who shared libero duties with Kyla Atienza – came up with eight excellent receptions.
“For me, malaking bagay siya kasi matagal ko na rin iniintay yung opportunity na ‘to, and happy naman ako binigay ni Coach Sherwin sa akin,” said the former UP standout.
Creamline will face the sixth seed in the knockout quarterfinals on Tuesday.
(c) PVL Images
Meanwhile, the Thunderbelles finished the tournament winless with a 0-8 record.
Japanese import Asaka Tamaru was the lone bright spot for ZUS Coffee with 16 points to go along with 14 excellent digs.
