Creamline vented its ire on Choco Mucho for a bounce back 25-22, 25-14, 25-22 victory in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Saturday night.
Tots Carlos put up monster numbers against the Flying Titans, scoring 25 points in just three sets on 23 attacks, an ace, and a block to help the Cool Smashers tie PLDT at the second spot with identical 3-1 slates.
“Syempre masaya kasi tumataas yung chance namin maka-pasok sa playoffs so happy kami at one win na lang mase-secure na namin yung ‘pag pasok namin sa next round,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Tied at 20-all in the third set, Risa Sato scored a quick while Tors Carlos rejected Isa Molde in a 3-0 swing that put the Cool Smashers ahead by three, 23-20.
Caitlyn Viray and Carlos exchanged hits from there as Creamline, who overcame a 1-7, disadvantage early in the set, extended its winning streak against Choco Mucho to six matches.
Meneses said that the team made sure to move on from the loss, focusing on their respective recoveries ahead of their clash against their sister squad.
“Actually ‘di naman kami nag-adjust sa training, ang hinahanap lang talaga naminnis yung recovery at conditioning,” said Meneses.
“Yung pagkatalo namin ‘di naman naging malaking kawalan ng morale, talagang sinabihan lang natin sila na continue yung sipag nila saka yung sistema kasi may time naman para makabawi. Nag move on kaagad kami, Choco Mucho yung pinaghandaan talaga namin in one day,” he continued.
Jema Galanza provided 10 points while Alyssa Valdez had a well-rounded performance with nine points, 15 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions.
Jia De Guzman delivered 26 excellent sets while Kyla Atienza had 12 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
In the opener, Carlos broke a 22-all deadlock by scoring three consecutive points to put the Cool Smashers ahead in the match. The team then led by as much as 11 points, 20-9, off a Valdez hit in the second set.
Viray top-scored for the short-handed Flying Titans with 12 points while Molde added eight points and nine excellent receptions.
Choco Mucho, who fell to 1-3 and is now in danger of missing the next round, played its second consecutive game without Kat Tolentino, Des Cheng, Cherry Nunag, and Thang Ponce who are all out due to health issues. Also out for the Flying Titans is middle blocker Aduke Ogunsanya, who was recentdly diagnosed with an ACL tear on her right knee.
Creamline will face Chery Tiggo on Thursday at 5:30 PM while Choco Mucho looks to bounce back against PLDT earlier that day at 2:30 PM. Both games will be played at the FilOil Flying Ecooil Centre.
