Creamline and Petro Gazz fought through the pain and gain of another epic battle that has marked majority of their encounters that led to four championship face-offs with the Cool Smashers pulling off a frenetic come-from-behind 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13 victory over the Angels to firm up their semifinal drive in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Cool Smashers had to overcome a 1-2 disadvantage and a hard-fighting Angels to solidify their position at the top of the league with a league-best 5-0 record. They remain the only perfect squad in the league.
“Syempre yung improvement ng team talagang gusto namin every game. Yung team naman namin, yung chemistry, nandiyan naman pero syempre hindi naman namin inaalis na may nawala sa amin pero yung sistema namin ang gusto lang naman namin mangyari is sumunod,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Leading by just one point in the final set, Lorie Bernardo and Bernadeth Pons initiated a four-point swing, and a couple of errors from the Angels allowed the Cool Smashers to extend their lead to five points at 9-4.
Petro Gazz managed to reduce the deficit to just one point twice after that, thanks to a swipe from Aiza Maizo-Pontillas followed by an attacking error from Carlos, bringing the score to 13-14. Carlos then sealed the game with the match-winning kill after two hours and 27 minutes of play.
The Rebisco-backed squad narrowly escaped defeat in the fourth set after Carlos scored three crucial points in a 7-0 run, turning an 18-19 deficit into a 25-19 victory that forced a fifth set.
“Ang importante kasi yung sistema susundin namin kahit sino yung naglalaro kahit bench pa yan, first six pa yan, or yung mga umalis samin na naglaro sa ibang bansa, ang importante kasi masunod yung sistema namin. Kung matalo, matalo. Kung manalo, edi sobrang bonus para sa amin,” added Meneses.
Michele Gumabao, despite sitting out the last two sets, contributed 19 points to lead the Cool Smashers to their fifth consecutive victory.
Carlos delivered 16 points on 16 successful attacks, while Jema Galanza had an all-around performance with 15 points, 13 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions. Pons, who played a pivotal role in Creamline’s comeback, scored eight points.
Kyle Negrito provided 22 excellent sets along with four points, and Ella De Jesus contributed 15 excellent digs in the win.
Creamline is looking to extend its unbeaten run when they face F2 Logistics on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the other hand, Grethcel Soltones registered 23 points for the Angels in the loss, while Jonah Sabete added 22 points with 18 successful attacks, two aces, and two blocks as Petro Gazz fell to 4-2, tied with F2 Logistics and Cignal for fifth place.
Remy Palma chipped in 14 points with eight attacks, four blocks, and two aces, while Maizo-Pontillas contributed 13 points, 16 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions.
Djanel Cheng delivered 16 excellent sets along with three points, and Baby Love Barbon collected 19 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Petro Gazz will face Cignal on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the same Pasig venue.
