Games Saturday
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Cignal
6 p.m. – Creamline vs Chery Tiggo

MANILA — In a commanding performance, Creamline exhibited a volleyball masterclass against Chery Tiggo, securing a convincing victory with set scores of 25-18, 27-25, 25-22.

This triumph positions the Cool Smashers on the brink of securing a coveted spot in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference Finals, a testament to their unbeaten record of 12 matches.

The Cool Smashers showcased remarkable resiliency, particularly in the extended second set, quashing any hopes of a comeback by the Crossovers and decisively clinching the semifinal opener.

Their pursuit of a 10th championship appearance overall intensifies as they gear up for Game 2 scheduled at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday).

Addressing the upcoming challenge, Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses emphasized the team’s focus on continuous improvement.

“Siyempre, hindi pa tapos ang laban. Kailangan pa namin ng one game para makapasok sa Finals. Training muna kami tomorrow (today) then tignan muna yung mga lapses namin para maganda pa ang ilalaro namin,” said Meneses.

In a notable turn of events for the season-ending tournament, Creamline’s trio of Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, and Alyssa Valdez delivered standout performances.

Galanza led the charge with 17 points, showcasing 16-of-30 attacks, along with nine receptions and seven digs.

Carlos contributed 15 points and displayed remarkable defensive prowess with 12 digs, while Valdez, in her best game of the conference, secured 12 crucial points, especially in the second set.

Reflecting on the intense matchup, Valdez acknowledged the challenging competition from Chery Tiggo.

“We all know Chery Tiggo will give us a good fight talaga. So every point we will have to work hard talaga so iyon ang naka-mindset sa amin,” said Valdez.

She also expressed gratitude for securing the pivotal second set, deeming it “very crucial.”

Galanza, humble in victory, attributed her stellar performance to the collective efforts of her teammates. “Siguro nagawa yung ganoong laro ko dahil sa mga teammates ko. Kasi tinutulungan po talaga nila talaga ako,” said Galanza.

Kyle Negrito’s precision in distributing plays for the Cool Smashers was evident with 23 excellent sets. On the opposing side, Eya Laure led the Crossovers with 17 points, supported by Mylene Paat and Cza Carandang, each contributing nine points.

Chery Tiggo, ranked fourth in the preliminary round, faces an uphill battle, having now suffered three consecutive losses.

(ai/mnm)