Creamline outhustles Petro Gazz, wins PVL All-Filipino crown
Published Mar 30, 2023 12:28 pm
Creamline maintained its supremacy in the Premier Volleyball League with a hard-earned 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15 victory to capture the All-Filipino Conference title at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday, March 30.
*Creamline wins the rubber match against Petro Gazz for the PVL All Filipino Conference title. (PVL Images)*
Jema Galanza did the most damage particularly in offense by firing all her 19 points on attacks for the Cool Smashers, who had to dig deep by winning Game 2, 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6, to extend their best-of-three finals affair. They lost Game 1, 22-25, 26-24, 23-25, 24-26. It was Creamline’s sixth conference crown in the league – a redemption of sorts after failing its Grand Slam bid last year where they only finished third in the Reinforced Conference. “Sabi namin, babawi kami para kay Ate Ly,” said Galanza, referring to their injured star player Alyssa Valdez. Setter Jia De Guzman, who also spelled the difference for the Cool Smashers by distributing the ball well and finishing with 18 excellent sets, said it was all about moving on and adjusting from their Game 1 defeat. “Everyone in our team knew our lapses in Game 1, so the next day, we went early for practice and tried to resolve our mistakes,” said De Guzman, who also scored two points. So impressive was De Guzman that four players scored in double figures for Creamline with Michele Gumabao sizzling with 18 points built on four blocks, and Tots Carlos and Ced Domingo contributing with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Apart from banking on their offense by outscoring the Angels on attacks, 57-44, the Cool Smashers also flaunted their rock-solid defense by posting 14 blocks. After being outhustled in the opening set, Creamline leaned on its defense to regain its composure in the next three frames particularly in the third set where they swatted away six blocks. The Cool Smashers dictated the pace from then on, seizing a 4-0 lead in the fourth and led by as many as eight points, 16-8, anchored on Gumabao, Carlos and Galanza. The Angels tried to slow down the Cool Smashers with Grethcel Soltones and Aiza Pontillas at the forefront of their plays, but Creamline was unstoppable as a down-the-line spike from Galanza sealed the title. Soltones finished with 17 points even as Jonah Sabete scored 11 points, in a losing effort for Petro Gazz.
*Creamline wins the rubber match against Petro Gazz for the PVL All Filipino Conference title. (PVL Images)*
Jema Galanza did the most damage particularly in offense by firing all her 19 points on attacks for the Cool Smashers, who had to dig deep by winning Game 2, 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6, to extend their best-of-three finals affair. They lost Game 1, 22-25, 26-24, 23-25, 24-26. It was Creamline’s sixth conference crown in the league – a redemption of sorts after failing its Grand Slam bid last year where they only finished third in the Reinforced Conference. “Sabi namin, babawi kami para kay Ate Ly,” said Galanza, referring to their injured star player Alyssa Valdez. Setter Jia De Guzman, who also spelled the difference for the Cool Smashers by distributing the ball well and finishing with 18 excellent sets, said it was all about moving on and adjusting from their Game 1 defeat. “Everyone in our team knew our lapses in Game 1, so the next day, we went early for practice and tried to resolve our mistakes,” said De Guzman, who also scored two points. So impressive was De Guzman that four players scored in double figures for Creamline with Michele Gumabao sizzling with 18 points built on four blocks, and Tots Carlos and Ced Domingo contributing with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Apart from banking on their offense by outscoring the Angels on attacks, 57-44, the Cool Smashers also flaunted their rock-solid defense by posting 14 blocks. After being outhustled in the opening set, Creamline leaned on its defense to regain its composure in the next three frames particularly in the third set where they swatted away six blocks. The Cool Smashers dictated the pace from then on, seizing a 4-0 lead in the fourth and led by as many as eight points, 16-8, anchored on Gumabao, Carlos and Galanza. The Angels tried to slow down the Cool Smashers with Grethcel Soltones and Aiza Pontillas at the forefront of their plays, but Creamline was unstoppable as a down-the-line spike from Galanza sealed the title. Soltones finished with 17 points even as Jonah Sabete scored 11 points, in a losing effort for Petro Gazz.