Alyssa Valdez made her return to action as Creamline took care of business against the retooled Chery Tiggo, winning 25-22, 25-22, 25-17, to start the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Valdez, who missed the All-Filipino Conference due to a knee injury, played her first game back since December. She finished with three points and 10 excellent digs in the Cool Smashers’ first match in Pool A.
Tots Carlos carried the offensive load, scoring 24 points in just an hour and 38 minutes of action, along with nine excellent digs in the victory. Jema Galanza added 12 markers.
“Siguro sobrang ganda ng gising ni Tots [Carlos]. Actually nung last week kasi hindi kami nagpahinga nung Sunday e so maganda talaga yung ginagalaw niya. Talagang lumabas sa laro,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Saka siguro masaya na siya kasi bumalik na siya sa totoong posisyon niya,” quipped Meneses.
One set away from completing the win, Galanza, Carlos, and Jeanette Panaga combined for a huge 6-0 run, giving Creamline an 18-11 lead in the third set.
Eya Laure tried to keep the Crossovers alive, but it was not enough as Galanza and Michele Gumabao delivered the finishing blows for the Cool Smashers.
The younger Laure, arguably the top recruit of this conference’s rookie class, led the way for Chery Tiggo with 14 points on 14 attacks, along with 15 excellent receptions. Team captain Mylene Paat was held to just nine markers.
Creamline will face Gerflor on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the same San Juan venue, while Chery Tiggo looks to bounce back against Akari on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
