Creamline put up a stellar performance to dispose of a badly-outclassed Cignal side, coming away with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-15 romp for its second straight win in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference elims at the Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan City on Thursday.
The 78-minute victory came on the heels of the Cool Smashers’ 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 ripping of arch rival Petro Gazz Angels in last weekend’s inaugurals, underscoring their readiness to defend the championship and put in motion a grand slam bid that failed in the Reinforced Conference late last year.
“We’re just doing what we’ve been doing in training – play our best and not rush things up. We also try to correct our mistakes quickly,” said Jema Galanza, who delivered 13 kills to spearhead Creamline’s fiery assault and clinch the player of the game honors.
Michele Gumabao actually topscored for the team with 14 points while Tots Carlos matched Galanza’s output and middles Ced Domingo and Pangs Panaga combined for 16 points. But the high-flying Galanza provided the highlight plays with her stinging spikes to perk up what had been a lopsided duel.
“I hope to stay consistent and help provide the leadership and more importantly, improve communication (inside the court),” said the former Adamson U stalwart, who also finished with seven excellent receptions.
The Cool Smashers pulled away late in the opening frame, held off Cignal’s charge midway in the second then dominated the third with their power plays and quick attacks that the HD Spikers had no answer for.
“Overall, maganda ung naging galaw namin at yung ibang break napunta sa min, lalo sa second set nung humabol ang Cignal. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
Creamline finished with 48 kills, 25 more than the HD Spikers, who produced just one double-digit output courtesy of Ces Molina, who fired 12 points. Chay Troncoso wound up with six markers while gunners Roselyn Doria and Rachel Anne Daquis could only combine for seven points and middle blocker Riri Meneses struggled for just three points.
Cignal actually scored 20 points off Creamline’s miscues while yielding 16 of their own but the HD Spikers just couldn’t get their offense going and fell to their second straight defeat following a four-set loss to the Angels last Tuesday.