MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers moved closer to its second title this year. It easily took down Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles, 25-17, 25-10, 25-15, in Game 1 of the Premier V-League Open Conference finals at the San Juan Arena.
On Wednesday night Alyssa Valdez led the way with 14 points, including seven service aces, while Michelle Gumabao chipped in 12 markers, all coming from the service line.
The Cool Smashers, which were earlier crowned as the Reinforced Conference champions, will shoot for its second championship win on Game 2 on Saturday night in Batangas City.
“I think we came in na alam namin na Ateneo’s very tall, very good at blocking, good service talaga and kung ‘di kami makakapalo kailangan naming pumuntos sa ibang bagay. I think total team effort ang win na ito,” said Valdez.
The Cool Smashers immediately imposed its veteran smarts on the Lady Eagles in the opening set behind Valdez, Gumabao and Jessia Galanza for an early double-digit advantage.
It was almost the same scenario in the second period with Valdez waxing hot from the service line to give the Cool Smashers a whopping 24-9 advantage to easily take a 2-0 set edge.
In the third set, the Cool Smashers took advantage of the miscues of the young Lady Eagles to go up by 10 points.
Pau Soriano and Gumabao were also efficient on net defense to thwart the Lady Eagles from scoring.
Bea De Leon finished with seven points while Madeleine Madayag and Kat Tolentino were limited to only six points each for the Lady Eagles./PN
