BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Creamline’s Neapolitan ice cream trio composed of Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos has been lethal for the Cool Smashers in the semifinals.
In the Game One of the series, Valdez poured a game-high 25 points while Carlos and Galanza unleashed 23 and 13 points, respectively in the five-set win.
Come Game Two, the troika’s offensive prowess was once again in full effect.
Carlos top scored this time with 21 points in the 27-25, 25-22, 25-16 Game Two sweep while Galanza and Valdez had 12 and nine markers.
The trio definitely played a huge part in clinching the first finals berth for Creamline. But for Valdez, none of this would be possible without the playmaking brilliance of Jia Morado.
“It won’t happen without Jia also and the trust of coach Tai and all of our teammates. We’re really just happy that it’s working,” said Valdez of their performance after the win against Petro Gazz on Tuesday.
Morado — who dished out 37 sets in the Game One – steadied the ship for the Cool Smashers, tallying a remarkable total of 36 excellent sets in just three sets in the Game Two victory.
“Grabe talaga yung firepower nilang tatlo pag nagsama and when everyone’s in sync including yung middles namin, mahirap lang talaga para sa kalaban.
“So we’re going to do our best and maximize that in the finals,” said Morado.
“Every spiker in this team maaasahan ko talaga whether inside the court or outside. Anyone na ipasok alam ko na magagamit namin ni Kyle (Negrito) whenever we’re put in,” the two-time PVL Finals MVP added.
But the fight is not yet over for Creamline as they are set to face Chery Tiggo — the team that handed them their sole loss in the elimination round.
“Coach Tai (Bundit) still wants us to stay grounded going into the finals,” said Morado.
“We’ll do our best to prepare the best way we can given the schedule na kaunting time lang for adjustments magagawa namin. Pero ganun pa rin same game plan, play happy, play with good basics, try to minimize our errors. Most of all, we’re for each other talaga pagdating sa loob ng court.”
