Jema Galanza delivered another stellar performance, leading the Cool Smashers’ charge and sealing the match with back-to-back points in a thrilling third-set battle. The final frame was a gripping contest, marked by 11 deadlocks as both teams fought fiercely for every point.
"Just cover for each other," said Galanza in Filipino when asked how the team has been overcoming tough moments.
She finished with a team-high 15 points, including a decisive kill and a floating serve that resulted in an ace, powering Creamline to its ninth straight victory in just one hour and 37 minutes.
Farm Fresh attempted to extend the match by challenging Galanza’s final hit, citing a ball-in/ball-out review. However, video replay confirmed that the former Adamson standout’s serve landed cleanly within the baseline, allowing the Cool Smashers to celebrate their hard-earned victory.
Now just two wins away from completing the sweep, Creamline faces a tough test against PLDT this Saturday (Feb. 15) at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Creamline is set to wrap up its preliminary campaign against struggling Galeries Tower (1-8) on Feb. 20 at the PhilSports Arena.
The win also propelled the Cool Smashers back to solo leadership after briefly yielding the top spot to archrival Petro Gazz, which earlier defeated Capital1. Creamline now holds a 9-0 record with 25 FIVB ranking points, while Petro Gazz totes at 8-1 with 23 points.
Galanza credited the team’s chemistry for their continued dominance.
"With the time we've spent together, we've built complete trust in each other. That’s really what’s needed on the court – trust in one another," she added.
Alyssa Valdez contributed eight points in two sets, while playmaker Kyle Negrito showcased her offensive prowess with eight points alongside 15 excellent sets.
Tots Carlos and Bernadeth Pons each chipped in seven markers, while Pangs Panaga and Bea De Leon scored five apiece as the defending champions geared up for their crucial clash with the fourth-seeded PLDT side (6-3, 18 points).
Farm Fresh fell to 4-6, sliding to ninth place as the Foxies struggled with the limited playtime of top hitter Trisha Tubu due to health concerns. She did action, albeit sparingly, and scored two points.
Caitlin Viray led Farm Fresh with 11 markers, while Alyssa Bertolano contributed eight, and Rizza Cruz added four.
Statistically, Creamline dominated, outspiking Farm Fresh 42-30, outblocking them 8-5, and exploiting their opponent’s shaky service reception to score seven points off errors.
With momentum on their side, the Cool Smashers are now laser-focused on their high-stakes showdown with the High Speed Hitters, where they look to extend their winning streak and move one step closer to another sweep.
The Cool Smashers overcame some erratic play with exceptional hitting and solid blocking, dominating the opening set. They took control early at 8-5 and maintained the lead, 16-9, and 19-12, securing a comfortable victory despite conceding nine free points – four more than the Foxies.
However, the crowd favorites proved too powerful for the Foxies, with Negrito orchestrating a well-balanced offense. Her precise plays contributed to 13 attack points, compared to just six from the Foxies.
Blocking was another area where the Cool Smashers excelled, racking up five blocks while the Foxies failed to register any. Creamline also served two aces, while Farm Fresh had none.
Despite dropping the opening set, the Foxies entered the next frame with confidence, engaging the Cool Smashers in a fierce battle of power and finesse, capped by a Jolina Dela Cruz putaway that shoved the Foxies to a 15-14.
Creamline regained control as De Leon’s quick attack and Valdez’s two-handed dump off a free ball set the tone. After Galanza’s backrow attack fault allowed the Foxies to pull even at 16, the Cool Smashers unleashed a six-point blitz, all but sealing the set.
