Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos during a game against Galeries Tower High Risers within the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
After having its 19-game winning streak broken last game, Creamline returned to its winning ways to cap its PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminary round schedule.
The Cool Smashers pulled through an enormous second set comeback to dismantle Galeries Tower, 25-15, 26-24, 25-19, on Thursday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, locking the No. 1 spot with a 10-1 (win-loss) standing heading into the knockout qualifying round.
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Tots Carlos finished with 18 points on 16 kills, a block and an ace as Alyssa Valdez delivered 16 points from 15 attacks and a block .
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025
“We’re comfortable… we ranked first. I feel there’s a little bit of a bonus since we’ll be facing a lower-ranked team. But this can also be the time when we are able to’t afford to loosen up since it’s all knockout games from here on,” coach Sherwin Meneses said as his crew bounced back from a primary loss shortly handed by PLDT in Antipolo City.
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“That is the part where we’d like to offer our 110% since the preliminaries are over. Now, we’ll concentrate on preparing for the qualifiers,” he added.
Petro Gazz, which is playing Nxled as of posting, can also be assured because the second seed followed by Cignal, which has earlier secured its seat at No. 3.
Creamline Cool Smashers’ Alyssa Valdez during a game against Galeries Tower High Risers within the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Kyle Negrito dished out 16 excellent sets.
“We’re comfortable that we bounced back within the second set, and coach kept guiding me on what to do,” Carlos said. “I’d say it’s due to coach Sherwin—he really guided me personally on this game while also giving us the liberty to make our own decisions.”
READ: PVL: PLDT ends Creamline’s winning streak in five-set thriller
The Highrisers surprised Creamline with a 16-9 lead in an try and take the second frame before Valdez took matters into her own hands and played an enormous part in a 15-5 exchange to steal the center set.
Valdez tied the sport at 22-all before giving the Cool Smashers the lead for good with a cross-court hit followed by an enormous block on Julia Coronel. Andrea Marzan forced it to an prolonged set before Tots Carlos and Valdez paired up for a 2-0 set advantage.
The third frame wasn’t as competitive anymore with Creamline determined to complete the sport early, 20-13. Galeries Tower still cut the deficit by some means at 23-19 before Graze Bombita pushed the ball too strong to place Creamline at match point and Pau Soriano hammering down a pointy quick attack.
Roselle Baliton paced Galeries Tower with 10 points and Fenela Emnas had 13 excellent sets, however it all went down the drain because the Highrisers ended the preliminary round with a lone win to point out in 11 games, similar with Capital1, as they await their final position heading into the qualifying round.
