CAGAYAN DE ORO – Creamline closed in on a semifinals berth after taking down PLDT in straight sets, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19, in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference, Saturday night at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center here.
Alyssa Valdez previously sat out the Cool Smashers’ previous win over F2 Logistics.
She made her return to the starting lineup and played all three sets. Valdez finished with a team-high 13 points to go along with 10 excellent receptions to help her side unbeaten with a 7-0 slate.
“Yung first set talagang dikit, talagang yung situation talaga tinitignan namin kung pabor ba samin or hindi,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses as the Cool Smashers overcame a 20-21 disadvantage in the opener.
“Pero knowing, lalo na si Alyssa (Valdez) ang nasa loob, talagang yung leadership niya talagang laging nandiyan. Happy kami kasi nakakuha kami ng three sets, lumalapit kami sa semifinals,” he added.
After a tight encounter with the High Speed Hitters in the first two sets, the Cool Smashers stepped it up a notch in the third frame.
Valdez fired back-to-back hits to spread Creamline’s five-point lead to seven points, 23-16.
Dell Palomata’s quick attack, followed by a Risa Sato attack error, brought PLDT back to five. However, Galanza answered back with a down-the-line hit to put the Rebisco-backed squad at match point.
Mika Reyes scored one via an accidental over-receive before Galanza ended the one-hour, 34-minute contest with another down-the-line attack.
“All-out pa rin kami kasi yung improvement saka yung team talaga, especially Kyle (Negrito), talagang para sa kaniya yung mga laro. Tinitignan pa namin kung talagang mai-improve pa kami every game. So all out kami sa remaining (four) games namin talaga,” added Meneses.
Galanza scored 12 points along with five excellent digs, while Michele Gumabao chipped in 10 markers in the match.
Tots Carlos, who only played in the second set, still managed to get four points. Meanwhile, Bernadeth Pons sat out the contest.
On the other hand, Savannah Davison led the way for PLDT with 14 points and 17 excellent receptions, while Erika Santos added 11 markers.
The High Speed Hitters, who have now dropped their second-straight match, remained at the fifth spot with a 5-3 record.
Creamline will look to clinch its spot in the playoffs when they take on Nxled on Thursday, 4:00 PM, at the Philsports Arena. On the other hand, PLDT will face Choco Mucho later that day at 6:00 PM.
