By NIKOLE JAVIER
Creamline kicked off its 2023 season with a straight-set victory over reigning Reinforced Conference champion Petro Gazz, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After breezing through in the first two sets, the Cool Smashers had to untangle themselves from the Angels eight times in the third set to start their season on the right footing.
Ced Domingo and Michele Gumabao both had 13 points to bring Creamline to its first win of the season after failing to complete its Grand Slam bid last year.
Tots Carlos and Jeannette Panaga had 11 and 10 in the dominant affair, respectively.
Down by four in the final set, the Cool Smashers managed to inch closer and tie the game at 11-all but couldn’t completely keep the Angels out of sight.
Now at 22-all, Creamline’s defensive stance above the net would avoid the possibility of an extended set courtesy of Domingo and Gumabao’s block on Nicole Tiamzon.
Gumabao then would put the Cool Smashers on top with an ace followed by Domingo's drop.
However, Petro Gazz would shoot itself in the foot with a costly attack error that ultimately ended the game in Creamline’s favor.
“Syempre happy ‘yong team kasi first game nakuha namin panalo. Alam naman natin tong Petro Gazz galing din sa championship at talagang binigay din ‘yong best nila. Naging maganda lang ‘yong service-receive sa crucial part. Lagi kami naghahabol sa second and third set eh,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas paced the Angels with 10 points as they tally a disappointing loss to start the season.