In their first meeting since the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference Finals, Alyssa Valdez and Creamline exacted vengeance on Petro Gazz.
The Cool Smashers handed their championship tormentors a straight-set beating, 25-19, 28-26, 25-20, in the 2019 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre, Saturday.
Team captain Valdez finished the game with 15 points coming from 13 attacks and two aces. She also had 14 excellent digs and seven receptions.
With their squad one set away from exacting revenge, Michelle Gumabao and Jema Galanza took turns attacking the Petro Gazz wall. They paved the way for an 8-4 Creamline lead in the first technical timeout of the third frame.
Jeanette Panaga sparked a 4-1 rally to tie the game at 14-all, but Gumabao broke the deadlock. A hit followed by a service error from Paneng Mercado put Creamline ahead, 16-15, in the second technical timeout.
The Angels then managed to shackle the scores at 19-all. Unfortunately, Celine Domingo fired up a 5-1 run to finish off Petro Gazz, 25-20.
“It wasn’t the best game we had as a team, but kudos to din to Petro Gazz kasi they’re really having a block party kanina. So it was really hard for us to penetrate sa blocking nila eh,” admitted Creamline team captain Valdez.
“On the other hand lang, what we did right lang is [our] floor defense and the counter-attacks, so we were able to get points from that. And siyempre yung mga bonuses sa aces,” she added.
Gumabao added 13 markers, with 12 coming from hits. Domingo chipped in 11 points to power Creamline to an immaculate 5-0 slate.
Jia Morado flaunted her stellar playmaking skills by dishing out 30 excellent sets. Meanwhile, Kyla Atienza patrolled the floor with 20 excellent digs.
On the other hand, Panaga scored 10 points while Cherry Nunag contributed eight markers for PetroGazz.
The Angels dropped to a 1-2 card.
Creamline will go up against sister squad Choco Mucho on August 31, Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Meanwhile, PetroGazz will look to atone for its loss on August 28, Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. when they battle PacificTown-Army in the same venue.
