ILOILO CITY — Creamline unleashed a massive rally in the fourth set to fend off Akari, 25-17, 25-22, 27-29, 25-8, and seal the top seed in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, Tuesday at the University of San Agustin Gymnasium here.
After yielding the third set, the Cool Smashers went all out in the fourth. They leaned on Jia De Guzman’s heavy services to power a 9-0 blast, which widened a 14-7 lead to a 23-7 gap.
Janine Marciano managed to stop the bleeding with an off-the-block hit. Then an error from Akari and a Pau Soriano quick finished off the match.
De Guzman steered the offense with 22 excellent sets to go along with eight big points off five aces and three attacks.
The Rebisco-backed squad end the elimination round with a league-best 7-1 standing.
“Ang sabi ko lang naman sa kanila yung team kailangan nakakarecover. Hindi pwedeng nada-down kasi lumalaban din yung mga kalaban,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“So kung hindi natin kayang i-handle yung pressure nung pagkatalo sa first set, siguro hindi tayo deserving na makapasok sa semis.”
Michele Gumabao fired a game-high 19 points built on 17 attacks, while Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos added 17 and 16 points, respectively. Carlos had 16 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs as well, to finish with a triple-double in the team’s fourth consecutive win.
“Marami pa kaming kailagan i-improve pagdating ng semifinals. Consistency, napaka-importante ng every point. Kaya kailangan naming mag-focus sa kada point, kasi kita niyo naman nung third set, medyo hindi maganda yung nilaro namin,” added Meneses.
“Pero happy ako kasi wala namang na-injury, healthy kaming maglalaro sa semis, so mag-pe-prepare kami.”
On the other hand, Eli Soyud was the lone double-digit scorer for the 2-6 Chargers with 17 points.
Trisha Genesis stepped up in the loss and scored nine points. Meanwhile, Erika Raagas had seven points, 11 excellent receptions, and seven excellent digs.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat was limited to just six points after coming off the bench in the last two sets.
The PVL semifinals will start on Saturday.
