Creamline moved a win away from the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference third place after trouncing Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 22-25, 25-5, 25-19, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
Two-time Conference MVP Tots Carlos started in place of Turkish import Yeliz Basa. And she did not disappoint, dropping 19 points to go with 17 excellent digs.
Alyssa Valdez chimed in 16 points on 12 attacks and four blocks to go with 10 digs, while Jeanette Panaga tallied nine blocks to finish with 14 points.
Panaga’s nine blocks matched the season-high recorded by Rose Doria back in the Invitational Conference.
“Masaya kami kasi nakuha namin ‘yung panalo. Nakarecover kami na hindi kami nakalaro sa Finals,” said Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses.
Errors doomed Chery Tiggo in the first frame, who was ahead 20-16, giving up five free points to Creamline. Michele Gumabao, Panaga, Carlos, and Valdez connived to put them in the early lead.
In the second period, the Cool Smashers clawed back from 13-19 to knot the game at 22. But Panaga committed a service error, before Roselle Baliton drilled back-to-back aces for the Crossovers to equalize.
The victory was highlighted by a 25-5 Cool Smashers domination in the third set. Then Gumabao finished the game in the fourth with three straight kills for the win.
“Same lang naman ‘yung sinasabi namin, one point at a time talaga. Siguro ‘yung break napunta sa amin kasi medyo gumanda ‘yung blocking namin sa Set 3 saka ‘yung serve namin gumanda,” said Meneses on the third set stunner.
Basa and middle blocker Ced Domingo did not play for Creamline.
Baliton was the lone Crossover in double figures with 10 points including five blocks. Jelena Cvijovic had nine points, while EJ Laure registered eight points, 27 excellent receptions, and 14 digs.
Creamline will look to clinch bronze on Dec. 6, Tuesday, 2:30 PM, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
