Creamline pulled through in a nail-biting third set to reclaim control and subsequently asserted its dominance in the fourth, carving out a 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18 victory over Akari to force a four-way tie for the lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Philsports Arena Thursday night.
Tots Carlos stood out with a career-record 31 points, building on her 19-point effort in their four-set win over Farm Fresh last weekend. The former UP stalwart produced 30 points on an impressive 55 percent attack rate and finished with an ace.
“Natutuwa ako kasi napakaganda ng laro at sakto lang talaga na yung situation na ganun, so masaya lang ako na pinag-seserbisyuhan si coach Sherwin (Meneses),” said Carlos. “Pero, lagi naman kaming ready. Lagi ko namang sinasabi na kung hindi dahil sa mga tiwala ng teammates, ng mga coaches, ng management, ‘di naman talaga kami mag-e-excel ng ganito so nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng suporta lalong lalo na yung mga fans sa lahat ng suportang binibigay nila sa amin.”
Jema Galanza contributed 15 points while Alyssa Valdez and Pangs Panaga added eight and seven markers, respectively, and Bea de Leon debuted for Creamline with five points in a two-set stint.
Creamline thus joined Chery Tiggo, PLDT, and Choco Mucho in the lead at 2-0 while dealing Akari its second loss following a 1-3 defeat to Cignal, also last Saturday.
The Cool Smashers proved clutch in a back-and-forth duel in the pivotal third set, responding to the Chargers’ fiery 4-0 run with a three-point binge as they wrested back the lead at 20-19 on a Michele Gumabao thundering hit.
Despite efforts from Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo that briefly placed Akari ahead, Creamline closed the set by winning five of the last six points, courtesy of impactful plays from Carlos and Galanza.
Having split the first two sets in tightly contested fashion, the Cool Smashers capitalized on their hard-fought escape in the third, claiming five of the first six points in the fourth frame and maintaining control throughout.
Akari made attempts to narrow the gap but failed to come closer than three points at 10-13 as Creamline unleashed a stifling 6-1 run, establishing a commanding 19-11 advantage on their way to the two-hour, eight-minute victory.
Despite the setback, the Chargers showcased their mettle with Soltones leading their charge with 15 points and Faith Nisperos and Dindin Manabat combining for 12 markers.
Fifi Sharma showed the way for Akari with 14 points, including three blocks, Manabat and Soltones finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Nisperos added eight markers.
Domingo, the former Creamline top middle, didn’t see action in the first set and finished with four points in her second game with the Chargers, who lost momentum midway through the fourth, enabling the Cool Smashers, behind Carlos and Galanza’s sustained assaults, to cruise to victory.
They last threatened at 15-20 but a Risa Sato slide attack gave Creamline another six-point cushion and Carlos’ 31st point put the team at match point, 24-18.
The Cool Smashers actually opted not to challenge a Manabat attack point in a fair play moment but the former wrapped up the match on the latter’s wide attack in the ensuing play.
With Carlos on the firing end, Creamline dominated Akari in spikes, 65-45, and finished with seven aces against the Chargers’ two. With Sharma controlling the net, however, Akari produced eight blocks against Creamline’s five.
The Cool Smashers, however, gave 31 unforced errors against the Chargers’ 19.
