MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers returned to their winning ways in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference through a 25-22, 25-12, 25-20 victory over NxLed Chameleons on Saturday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Alyssa Valdez stepped up for the defending champion Cool Smashers with 12 points, including 11 attacks, to be named Player of the Game as they moved up to solo third place with 7-2 card.
According to Valdez, the Cool Smashers are currently finding their identity after tasting rare defeats to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the Petro Gazz Angels at this conference.
“When the going gets tough, you just have to go back to the basics and to know who you really are,” Valdez said in a post-game interview. “We are really trying to find our identity at this conference.”
Holding to a slim 21-20 lead late in the third set, the Cool Smashers banked on their experience by connecting four straight points from Jeanette Panaga, Diana Carlos, and Michele Gumabao to clinch the win in straight sets.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho Flying Titans cruised to an easy 25-17, 25-15, 25-15 straight-set win over Strong Group Athletics as they moved up to solo first place with an 8-1 win-loss slate.
Honey Royce Tubino tallied 15 points, built on 14 attacks and one block, to be named Player of the Game for the league-leading Flying Titans.
Tubino, one of the newcomers for the Flying Titans during the offseason, said she has slowly adjusted to the system of head coach Dante Alinsunurin and is also jelling with her new teammates.
“Nakapag-adjust na kasi hindi naman sila mahirap pakisamahan,” Tubino said in a post-game interview. “Mas maganda na din ‘yun jelling namin ng mga teammates ko.”
Galeries Tower Highrisers, on the other hand, relied on a career game by France Ronquillo to defeat Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-18, 25-23, 25-16. Ronquillo tallied 20 points in the win./PN
