In the rematch of the Open Conference finale, Creamline overcame a slow start to fend off Petro Gazz, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Tuesday night at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza came to the rescue for the Cool Smashers. The former tallied 15 attacks, two aces, and a block for 18 points while the latter delivered 17 markers off 15 attacks and two kill blocks to go along with 14 excellent digs.
Jia De Guzman, meanwhile, pulled the strings on offense with 27 excellent sets along with two points.
“Medyo slow start yung first and second sets, medyo marami yung basic errors namin. Buti na lang naka-recover sa fourth set,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Ta-trabahuhin muna ulit namin sa training yung mga basic error, pero yung Petro Gazz naman talagang contender talaga ‘yan so sabi ko sa mga players ‘wag tayo mag-pabaya,” he added.
Down by two early in the third set, the Cool Smashers went on a 13-5 tear to establish a 21-15 advantage over the Angels. Petro Gazz managed to close the gap to three, 19-22, before Alyssa Valdez and Michelle Gumabao put Creamline at match point.
Jonah Sabete kept her side alive with a kill but a service error from MJ Phillips sealed the win for the Cool Smashers.
Risa Sato chipped in 11 points in Creamline’s debut victory while Alyssa Valdez was limited to just eight points in the contest.
The Cool Smashers overcame a slow start in the opening set that saw them trail, 4-12, before unleashing a massive 21-10 blast to turn the set around. The Angels, though, did not let the second set slip and held off Creamline to even the game at 1-1.
In the third frame, the reigning Open Conference champion fought back from a 17-21 deficit and ended the set with an 8-1 spurt to claim a 2-1 lead.
Myla Pablo spearheaded Petro Gazz with 15 points and nine digs while Phillips had 14 off nine attacks and a game-high four blocks.
Grethcel Soltones and Remy Palma sat out the contest for the Angels.
Creamline will face PLDT on Saturday at 2:30 PM while Petro Gazz takes on Army-Black Mamba on Thursday at 5:30 PM
