ANTIPOLO – Defending champion Creamline overcame a rough start, turning back Chery Tiggo in a tight four-set encounter, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, to punch its ticket to the semifinals of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, Saturday at the Ynares Center here.
The five-peat seeking Cool Smashers flaunted its vaunted championship composure while fending off the hard-fighting Crossovers.
They are now the third team to enter the round-robin semifinals — their 17th consecutive appearance.
“Talagang ‘yung Chery Tiggo, hindi talaga basta-basta magpapatalo. Ready naman kami doon sa mga sitwasyon na ‘yun, may mga lapses din ulit na medyo kailangan trabahuhin. Pero talagang ‘yung Chery Tiggo, hanggang fourth set talagang lumalaban sila,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
As Chery Tiggo came out firing to start the match, the Cool Smashers banked on the troika of Bernadeth Pons, Bea De Leon, and Tots Carlos to steady the ship and deliver a strong response after losing the opening set.
Pons finished with a game-high 18 points, 17 of which came from attacks, along with 15 excellent receptions for Creamline in the two-hour, 16-minute encounter.
De Leon, meanwhile, sustained her stellar performance from Game 1, tallying 14 points on seven attacks, five of the team’s seven blocks, and two aces. Carlos also contributed 14 markers along with 13 excellent digs.
(C) PVL Images
“Una pa lang kanina ni-remind na kami ni coach na Chery, nothing to lose sila. Maglalaro talaga sila ng maganda so hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent and pinahirapan talaga nila kami bawat puntos. So thankful lang din na naipanalo namin ‘yung game ngayon,” said Pons.
Ahead by a single point midway into the fourth frame, the Cool Smashers went on a 6-0 run anchored by Carlos and turned a slim 13-12 lead to a 19-12 advantage, putting Chery Tiggo on the back foot and inching closer to sealing the victory.
Both sides traded hits from there before the Crossovers earned enough momentum to go on a 5-1 run to cut the lead to three points, 20-23.
Pons, however, stopped the bleeding with an off-the-block attack, but Jeanette Panaga committed a service error. A miscommunication on a set play then cost Creamline another point, allowing Chery Tiggo to save two match points.
De Leon thern put on the finishing touch, delivering the semis-clinching quick attack to send the Cool Smashers to the next round.
Kyle Negrito glued things together with 25 excellent sets to go along with six big points. Meanwhile, Kyla Atienza registered 14 excellent digs in the Cool Smashers’ fourth consecutive win of the tournament.
Creamline will join Choco Mucho and Akari in the round-robin semis, which will begin on Saturday at the same venue.
(C) PVL Images
Seth Rodriguez delivered a standout performance for the Crossovers with a team-best 16 points on 10 attacks, five kill blocks, and one ace. Cess Robles added 14 markers to go along with 19 excellent receptions.
Ara Galang contributed 11 points, including three blocks. Shaya Adorador had seven points, 12 excellent digs, and 16 excellent receptions.
Alina Bicar, meanwhile, tossed 19 excellent sets to go along with three points, while Jennifer Nierva collected 20 excellent digs.
