BY ABBY TORALBA
WITH its grand slam bid gone with the cold December winds, Creamline tripped Chery Tiggo 25-22, 22-25, 25-5, 25-19 yesterday in Game 1 of their best-of-3 battle for third in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Diana Mae Carlos led the way for the Cool Smashers, who went with an all-Filipino crew in the match, with 19 points, 18 off attacks and one block, while skipper Alyssa Valdez tallied 16 markers and 10 digs.
“Siyempre masaya kami kasi nakuha namin iyong panalo. Naka-recover kami sa last na (laro) na hindi kami nakalaro sa finals. Ang sabi nga ng team namin is mag-enjoy talaga lang sa mga next game today and doon sa next game,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said. “Mag-enjoy lang maglaro. Iyong panalo naman susunod lang iyan.
“Hopefully, next game, maging maganda pa iyong game,” he added.
The Cool Smashers shrugged off a slow start in the opening set after being down 11-16 and took the lead 22-20. Down the stretch, an attack from the Crossovers shoved Creamline to set point 24-22.
Valdez finished the set with a drop shot.
After falling short in the second frame, the Cool Smashers demolished Chery Tiggo in the third set in 18 minutes.
Middle blocker Jeanette Panaga also scored 14 points off nine blocks, opposite spiker Michele Gumabao had 11 markers, while open hitter Jema Galanza had 10 kills for Creamline.
