ILOCOS NORTE - Overcoming 1-2 set deficits has become a habit of sorts for Creamline, which produced another gripping bounce-back of a win as it foiled Petro Gazz, 27-29, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 16-14, on Sunday to move a victory away from the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center here.
Tots Carlos, earning a starting spot for her fine performance in the elims, anchored the top-ranked Cool Smashers' third come-from-behind triumph in as many games, coming away with 23 hits, including all but one of the team's last five points in a decider that could've gone either way.
They included a kill that shattered a 13-all count and after the Angels lived for another point on a Creamline net violation, the former UP stalwart banged in the last of her power shots then Jema Galanza delivered the clincher on a Petro Gazz unsound reception, ending a riveting match that kicked off the Final Four of the country's first pro volley league.
It was a sorry setback for the No. 4 Angels, who outwitted the Cool Smashers in a thrilling first-set escape that saw them buck a nine-point difference in attacks and a couple of three-point deficits by pouncing on their rivals' miscues (12).
Petro Gazz then countered Creamline's victory in the second set with another gritty performance in the third but hardly found an answer to Alyssa Valdez's power and the Cool Smashers' fiery comeback in the fourth.
So intense was the match that two yellow cards were issued to both teams for minor misconduct in the course of their heated match.
Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo were clashing in the other semis duel at press time.
Valdez did what she does best, uncorking a 22-attack game for 25 points while Galanza scored 16 points and Michele Gumabao produced 13 points in another three-set outing for Creamline, which drew 37 excellent sets from Jia Morado.
Four Angels turned in double-digit outputs with Myla Pablo overshadowing Valdez's output with 26 points and Ces Molina pounding in 17 points, including key on the run hits, and Gretchel Soltones and Remy Palma chipping in 10 points each for Petro Gazz, which scored 35 points off its rival's unforced errors.
Creamline, which also rallied past Choco Mucho and Perlas after trailing after three sets and which ruled this event in the then semi-pro PVL in 2019 before the pandemic disrupted play in 2020, seeks to ride on the momentum of its yet another scrambling victory as it shoots for the finals in Game 2 of their best-of-three series on Monday.
"Tots has been very aggressive not only in terms of attacking but also inside the court," said Valdez of Creamline's new recruit who bagged the game's best player honors. "She brings energy inside and outside the court."'
Valdez, who presided the team's emphatic win in the fourth to send the match into a decider, likewise took notice of Galanza's ever-improving all-around game, saying: "She's been fulfilling her role - spiking, floor defense. She's always been there but I think everyone is maturing."
Experience did matter in a down-to-the-wire finish with the Angels fighting back from 1-4 down to tie it at 6 on a Palma hit. They battled through two lead changes and four more deadlocks, the last at 10 on a Pablo attack before Pangs Panaga scored on a quick play to put Creamline ahead.
Carlos then unleashed another power shot on the opposite side and after the Angels tied it again at 12 on a Morado service error and a block on Valdez, Carlos came away with three more hits to atone for the team's service miscue and net violation.
"We have to give credit to Petro Gazz. They've been doing great, not just in net defense but also in attacks," said Valdez, whose Cool Smashers also disposed of the Angels in four in the early going of the single round elims of the league organized by Sports Vision.
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