Creamline bounced back from a second-set stumble and outplayed Petro Gazz, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, to notch its first win Tuesday night in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational at The Arena in San Juan City.
Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza pumped in with 18 and 17 points, respectively, in a rematch of last Conference’s finals where Creamline reaffirmed its mastery over Petro Gazz.
Carlos and Galanza also teamed up in the offensive lane where they combined for 30 of the team’s 54 attacks, overshadowing the efforts of Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips for the Angels.
Risa Sato also stepped up for the Cool Smashers with 11 points while Jia De Guzman converted 27 of the team’s 31 excellent sets on top of two points.
“We were just trying to find our groove but we’re not worried. The coaches reminded us to go back to the basics because we’re committing unforced errors,” said De Guzman after Creamline gave up 31 points on errors.
Carlos and Galanza picked up the pieces when skipper Alyssa Valdez struggled and finished with just one of the latter’s recent lows with only eight hits to show.
The win also came on the return of Michele Gumabao, who dabbled in politics in the last national elections and contributed four points in a relief effort.
There were many moments in the first three sets that Petro Gazz was in control including the first and third frames when it could have taken those sets.
But Morado willed the Cool Smashers back in their vulnerable moments while Carlos and Galanza kept firing at will to turn things around.
When Creamline finally recovered its wits, there was no stopping the reigning Open Conference titlist in the fourth set that it utterly dominated.