By NIKOLE JAVIER
Creamline bounced back from its third set meltdown to edge out Chery Tiggo in four sets, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, for the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference bronze medal on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Tots Carlos poured 19 points built on 17 attacks and two aces to tow the Cool Smashers to the podium.
Jema Galanza added 16 points while Jeanette Panaga and Celine Domingo had 14 and 12, respectively.
The Cool Smashers bagged their third bronze medal and have not missed out on the podium since their introduction to the league.
The momentum of the Cool Smashers, who were leading 6-3, early in the third set, turned rocky after team captain Alyssa Valdez landed on her right knee while saving a ball from the back row during a rally, hurting her in the process.
Creamline couldn’t untangle itself from the fourth deadlock of the third set at 23-all which eventually ended on the hands of Chery Tiggo.
In the fourth set, the Cool Smashers bucked a slow start to even the match at 13-all with a denial on Mylene Paat at the net.
From that point on, the girls in pink have regained their senses courtesy of Panaga’s back-to-back points, 15-13.
Despite the Crossovers’ best efforts to retake the lead, the Cool Smashers protected their advantage and unleashed a 4-0 run capped by Panaga’s quick attack to bring them to the match point and make it 24-21.
However, Chery Tiggo would show some late semblance of life to save two more points before Galanza punctuated the match with a down-the-line kill.
“Natapos ‘yong campaign namin na naka-bronze kami. Masaya kami. Happy kami at na-experience namin ‘yong national . Pero marami pa naman opportunity na maka-Grand Slam, hindi naman nawawala sa amin ‘yon basta one at a time. We have chances pa naman,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Paat’s 19-point outing paced the Crossovers while Jelena Cvijovic chipped in 13 markers in the losing effort. EJ Laure and Cza Carandang also finished in double digits with 11 and 10, respectively, as they marked the end of their PVL Reinforced Conference campaign.