Playing without playmaker Jia Morado, the Creamline Cool Smashers maintained their lethal form as they eked out a tight sweep of the PacificTown–Army Lady Troopers, 25-23, 28-26, 26-24, in the 2019 PVL Open Conference, Wednesday night at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
“Army is such a veteran team, yun lang ang masasabi ko. Kahit anong gawin namin, siguro smart kasi sila kalaban, so mababasa’t basa nila kami,” Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez said. “I guess we had to play smart din on the latter part, tsaka kailangan namin tiyagain kasi lalamang at lalamang sila.”
The Cool Smashers stormed back from a 5-12 deficit in the third set, knotting the count at 19-all. However, the Lady Troopers threatened to extend the match as they unfurled three unanswered points.
Down 19-22, Alyssa Valdez scored twice in a 3-0 run that tied things up. Following a trade of punches, the match swung to a 24-all lock. Valdez then went through the block, and Pau Soriano sealed the match with a quick attack.
The Cool Smashers stretched their unbeaten streak to a league-best 7-0 card.
Morado was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday night due to a gastroenteritis disease. She was not present in the match.
“Kyle Negrito naman was really the key to our win so hats-off to her,” Valdez added.
In her stead, Kyle Negrito dished out 18 excellent sets, setting the table for Valdez and Jema Galanza, who led Creamline in scoring. The former top-billed with 18 points — built on 16 attacks and a block — while the latter finished with 14 markers to go along with 14 excellent receptions.
Michele Gumabao chipped in eight points on top of 13 excellent digs for the Cool Smashers, who hammered down 42 attacks.
On the other hand, the Lady Troopers dropped their third consecutive match in five outings. Holding a 2-3 card, they are now level with Bali Pure.
Jovelyn Gonzaga topped Army with 10 markers off eight attacks, a block, and an ace. She also had 16 excellent digs.
Ging Balse-Pabayo chimed in nine points from seven attacks and a pair of rejections. Honey Royse Tubino and Lut Malalaluan contributed eight and seven markers, respectively.
The Cool Smashers seek to continue their dominant run through the tourney when they face the Bali Pure Water Defenders. Meanwhile, PacificTown–Army look to get back on track when they square off against the Chef’s Classics Red Spikers. Both matches will be played on Saturday, September 7 at the same venue.
