By: Ohmer Bautista
Wanting to close out the first round on a high note, the Creamline Cool Smashers made quick work of the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, in the PVL Reinforced Conference Season 3, Wednesday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Cool Smashers have won four straight games following their opening day defeat at the hands of Petro Gazz.
The reigning champions seized command early, going on cruise control en route to a two-sets-to-none set lead.
The Water Defenders, however, stunned Creamline with an 8-2 blitz to open the third frame after the latter fell to the pit of complacency early in the said set.
“For me, hindi naman maiiwasan na maging complacent siguro after getting two sets. And doon sa two sets na yun, I guess most players na napasok ni Coach Tai [Bundit], nakaikot din na mga players. More of naging complacent rin siguro,” Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez bared.
“Inisip namin na tapos na pero suwerte lang kami on the latter parts of the third sets, siguro yung breaks of the game,” she added.
Valdez rallied her teammates to knot the game at 21-all. She then broke the deadlock, before Water Defender Menchie Tubiera committed a net infraction that started a downward spiral for Bali Pure, who further stumbled with a slew of errors.
Risa Sato hammered the nail on the coffin to put the game away for good.
Valdez spearheaded the Creamline offense, scoring 16 points built on 12 spikes and four aces. She also contributed on the other end with 10 excellent digs.
Thai reinforcement Kuttika Kaewpin added 11 markers and nine digs.
Alexandria Vajdova had 17 markers that went for naught. Fellow import Danijela Dzakovic supplied 10 markers for Bali Pure, who fell to a 0-5 card.
Creamline opens their second round campaign versus BanKo Perlas as PVL swings to Iloilo on Saturday, June 15. On the other hand, Bali Pure will try to crack into the win column as they take on league-leaders Petro Gazz Angels on Sunday, June 16 at the Imus Sports Complex.
