Creamline hacked out an 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25, win against Petro Gazz to forge a rubber match for the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference crown Tuesday night, March 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Michele Gumabao delivered a team-high 21 points while Tots Carlos sizzled with 20 points for the Cool Smashers, who bucked a first-set stumble to level the best-of-three series and forge it to a deciding Game 3.
They lost in Game 1, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24.
*The Creamline Cool Smashers drag the best-of-three finals series into a sudden death against the Petro Gazz Angels after winning Game 2. (PVL Images)*
Creamline cruised to an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set but Petro Gazz was able to recover to tie the game at 10-all. Both teams kept the game close before the Angels took the 20-19 upperhand after an attack error from Jema Galanza. Petro Gazz took that advantage and went on to a 3-0 run highlighted by Aiza Pontillas' back-to-back hits en route to evening the match at 2-all. The Cool Smashers, however, regained their lost steam and surged to a 10-2 advantage with Ced Domingo taking matters into her own hands by scoring three straight points and never looked back. Galanza and Domingo chipped in 17 and 14 markers, respectively, in an all-around team effort for the Cool Smashers. Rem Palma and Pontillas, meanwhile, paced the Angels with 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the losing effort. Creamline guns to keep the momentum going and retain the title in Game 3 on Thursday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the same venue.
*The Creamline Cool Smashers drag the best-of-three finals series into a sudden death against the Petro Gazz Angels after winning Game 2. (PVL Images)*
Creamline cruised to an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set but Petro Gazz was able to recover to tie the game at 10-all. Both teams kept the game close before the Angels took the 20-19 upperhand after an attack error from Jema Galanza. Petro Gazz took that advantage and went on to a 3-0 run highlighted by Aiza Pontillas' back-to-back hits en route to evening the match at 2-all. The Cool Smashers, however, regained their lost steam and surged to a 10-2 advantage with Ced Domingo taking matters into her own hands by scoring three straight points and never looked back. Galanza and Domingo chipped in 17 and 14 markers, respectively, in an all-around team effort for the Cool Smashers. Rem Palma and Pontillas, meanwhile, paced the Angels with 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the losing effort. Creamline guns to keep the momentum going and retain the title in Game 3 on Thursday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the same venue.