Creamline continues to show nerves of steel, acing its second consecutive five-setter in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
The Cool Smashers needed to fend off a furious F2 Logistics fightback attempt last Thursday to escape with a 12-25, 25-15, 23-25, 30-28, 15-7 victory.
Just two days later, Creamline figured in another heart-stopping thriller, surviving against Cignal with a score of 23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 24-26, 15-10 on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
These tests of character benefit the Cool Smashers, helping them improve even more, especially in their quest for back-to-back championships in the Invitationals.
This also prepares the 3-0 Creamline for its next two games, as they face off against Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam and Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan.
“Yung team din kasi the more na dikdikan yung laban, the more na makikita mo na nagtutulungan talaga,” said Tots Carlos, a three-time PVL MVP.
“So ayon, through these five-setter games, for me personally, nakikita ko na napapalakas nya lalo yung loob ng team as a whole and the players as an individual,” added Carlos, who posted 27 points in the win.
Head coach Sherwin Meneses is not surprised by his team’s performance, knowing that during the deciding frames, Creamline will show up.
The Cool Smashers breezed through the pool play, only dropping a single set in four games, but when the going gets tough, they also know how to finish off tight matches.
“Syempre yung Creamline naman, proven na yan sa five-setter, kahit ano yung resulta, basta sila naglalaro lang naman sila. So, ang magandang resulta, nanalo kami, pangalawang beses na,” said Meneses.
“Masaya kami kasi patuloy na lumalapit yung situation na makapunta ulit kami sa finals,” he added as his squad improved to 3-0, ahead of F2 Logistics, Cignal, and PLDT, which are all at 1-2.
Creamline will be back on Tuesday to face Bac Ninh before finishing its semis schedule on Thursday against the Ablaze.
