MANILA, Philippines (Updated 9:00 p.m.) — The Creamline Cool Smashers are back in the win column after overcoming the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, 17-25, 25-11, 25-19, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday.
Chery Tiggo pounced in the opening set when Tots Carlos was caught riding the bench. EJ Laure, Mylene Paat and Shaya Adorador led the way on offense.
But Carlos found her way back to the Starting Six in the second set and helped Creamline regain their bearings. It came down to the offensive firepower of Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao, though, who led the Cool Smashers in the onslaught.
The Cool Smashers regained the lead with another convincing win in the third.
By the fourth set, Gumabao scored on back-to-back attacks to clinch the match and improve to 4-1, 25-21, to remain atop the standings.
Galanza finished with a triple-double performance with 25 points, 13 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions.
Gumabao added 17 markers as well as Ced Domingo chipped in 16 points.
Carlos, for her part, finished with nine points in three sets.
Jia Morado-De Guzman took charge of the playmaking with 34 excellent sets.
Laure and Adorador had 15 and 11 points, respectively, in the losing effort for the Crossovers.
Creamline looks to mount another win streak when they face the Army Black Mamba on Tuesday, February 28, while the Chery Tiggo Crossovers face off against the Akari Chargers on Saturday, March 4.
F2 Logistics rejoined Creamline in the lead later in the night, keeping its composure late in the third set to complete a 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 victory over Cignal HD.
The Cargo Movers hardly showed signs of rust coming off a week-long rest following their epic five-set win over the Cool Smashers, pulling through in a tight first-set skirmish and dominating the HD Spikers in the next.
Cignal put up a tough stand in the third frame but F2 Logistics held its ground and emerged on top of a back-and-forth duel to hike its record to 4-1.
The HD Spikers fell to 1-4.
Kim Dy scored on a drop ball and a push, lifting the Cargo Movers from a 22-23 deficit to match point before Cha Behag finished off the luck-less HD Spikers with a dump after the latter's errant first ball.
Dy unloaded 21 attack points and an ace to bag the game’s top honors. But the rest of the Cargo Movers, including Myla Pablo, Aby Marano, Aby Galang, Ivy Lacsina, Behag and playmaker Kim Fajardo, also stepped up to turn back the HD Spikers and bolster their semis drive.