CREAMLINE made short work of also-ran ZUS Coffee 25-17, 25-15, 25-22 yesterday to march into the quarterfinals on a high note in the PVL Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan.
The Cool Smashers cruised to the runaway win against the Thunderbelles and fielded all of their players, with American import Erica Staunton firing with 17 points.
Outside hitter Bernadeth Pons also delivered with 11 markers, 12 digs, and six excellent receptions while Lorie Bernardo scored eight.
Libero Kyla Atienza had 11 digs.
Creamline, despite not having stars Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza so far in the tourney, wrapped up its preliminary campaign with a 6-2 card.
The eight-time league champions will be the third-ranked team in the knockout quarterfinals, battling sixth-placed Capital1 Solar Spikers who are making their first-ever playoffs appearance in the PVL.
“Siyempre happy kami na nanalo kami ngayon papasok na kami sa quarterfinals, so iyong momentum nandoon,” Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Ready naman kami doon sa lahat ng challenge na mangyayari. Ang importante lang talaga is iyong determinasyon namin manalo, mag-focus sa ginagawa. Lalo na knockout game lang iyong mangyayari so trust lang namin sa isa’t isa para makuha namin iyong quarterfinals,” he added.
Japanese reinforcement Asaka Tamaru was the lone bright spot for ZUS Coffee with16 markers and 14 digs.
PLDT and Chery Tiggo still have an opportunity to tie Creamline at 6-2, but the Cool Smashers hold a superior total points tally of 20 in case of a tie.
The High Speed Hitters, still in action against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans at press time, can only reach a maximum of 19 points, while the Crossovers, who are scheduled to play the Petro Gazz Angels later, can accumulate a maximum of 18 points.
“We’re ready, sa lahat ng challenges na mangyayari. Ang importante lang talaga is yung determination namin na manalo,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses. “Lalo na knockout game, so, trust lang namin sa isa’t isa.”
