In a thrilling showdown at the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Creamline's Cool Smashers clinched a perfect sweep of Group A by narrowly defeating the resilient Akari side in a hard-fought, four-set battle. The game saw the Cool Smashers suffer their first set loss in the tournament, but the team's former league MVP, Jema Galanza, remains optimistic as they head into the semifinals.
Prior to their encounter with Akari, Creamline had steamrolled through the pool play, not dropping a single set. The team, backed by Rebisco, showcased their dominance with three consecutive wins. However, Akari presented an unyielding challenge that pushed the Cool Smashers to their limits, eventually handing them their first set loss in the tournament.
Galanza, who played a pivotal role in securing the victory for Creamline, expressed her thoughts on the tough battle they faced against Akari. She emphasized the benefits of encountering formidable opponents before entering the round-robin semifinals, where they will meet two foreign teams.
"After this last game, the team's pace slowed down a bit, but at least we were challenged before entering the semifinals. Hopefully, we can address and improve on all the mistakes we've made, not just in this match but also in our past games," said Galanza after the four-set win.
Despite their triumph, Galanza acknowledged that the Cool Smashers had lost some of their usual exuberance during the match. She pointed out that the pace of their game slowed down, and they struggled to find their rhythm against Akari's solid performance.
Galanza's clutch play proved to be pivotal, as she finished with an impressive game-high of 16 points from 13 powerful attacks and contributed seven excellent receptions throughout the match. Her cross-court attack that sealed the victory exemplified her crucial role in the team's success.
With their perfect 4-0 record in the group stage, Creamline stands as the only unbeaten team in the league, instilling a sense of confidence and determination within the squad. However, Galanza remains pragmatic, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and preparation as they face tougher challenges in the upcoming semifinals.
"We actually need to improve everything because as a team, we're not perfect. We'll be working on that in the next few days while waiting for the semifinals. Maybe, it's also about getting our chemistry right because we really don't know who we'll be facing in the semifinals," she asserted.
As the Cool Smashers head into the semifinals, their supporters eagerly anticipate more thrilling and action-packed performances.
With Galanza leading the charge and the entire team's determination to grow stronger, Creamline is undoubtedly still a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming rounds.
