Creamline banked on its veteran experience as it dealt younger sister team Choco Mucho its first defeat, 18-25, 25-9, 21-25, 25-18, 15-6, and grabbed the first semifinal spot in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Wednesday night, August 4 at the PVC Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Led by star spiker Alyssa Valdez, the Cool Smashers kept their cool in the face of a 1-2 set deficit and went on to dominate the Flying Titans in the deciding fifth for the first seat in the final four with a 7-1 record.
Valdez pumped in 22 points anchored on 18 attacks, three aces and a block to lead a balanced offense as the defending conference champion Creamline coasted to a second straight win and snatched the No. 1 spot.
Michele Gumabao racked up 19 points built on 17 kills, Tots Carlos tallied 16 markers, Jeanette Panaga contributed 13 highlighted by six blocks and Risa Sato added 12.
Jia Morado produced 37 excellent sets, four more than her protege Dina Wong.
"One thing that our coaches keep on reminding us is to really just play, let it all out inside the court," said the 28-year-old Valdez.
"We really just have to play for each other and all throughout the game may mga struggles and may mga lapses pa rin but I think all the shouting and 'yung pagchi-cheer ng lahat nakita niyo naman it really helped the team," added the three-time UAAP MVP out of Ateneo.
Creamline clawed its way back from a 10-14 disadvantage in the fourth set as Sato, Gumabao and Carlos sparked a 15-4 run to force the decider.
Valdez put on a showdown with Kat Tolentino early in the fifth before the Cool Smashers started to pull away through a 6-1 surge capped by Carlos' crosscourt smash for an 8-3 lead.
It was all Creamline from there as Morado wrapped up the comeback win with a service ace.
The victory was a perfect welcome gesture for coach Tai Bundit, who called the shots for the first time this conference after completing his quarantine.
Tolentino had 16 points while Maddie Madayag and Ponggay Gaston had 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for Choco Mucho, which absorbed its maiden loss after posting six wins.
Coach Oliver Almadro's Flying Titans slid to a tie at No. 2 with opening game winner Chery Tiggo Crossovers. The two will tangle in the last elimination round match on Saturday, with the winner avoiding complications in entering the playoffs.