MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers completed a rare grand slam after ruling 2024 PVL Invitational Conference with a 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13 victory over Cignal HD Spikers on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Erica Staunton spearheaded the attack with 29 points, on 26 attacks, two service aces, one block, while Negrense Bernadeth Pons added 27 points, on 24 attacks, two service aces and a block, for the Cool Smashers.
This was the Cool Smashers’ third championship this season after previously topping the All-Filipino Conference and recently the Reinforced Conference. This was also their 10th crown overall.
“Coming into this conference pinanghawakan talaga namin ‘yung matagal na kaming magkakasama, alam ng bawa’t isa ‘yung role nila, and ‘yung respeto namin sa isa’t isa talagang nandun,” said Finals MVP Kyle Negrito, who tallied 25 excellent sets.
With the score tied at 24-all late in the fourth set, the Cool Smashers took a 25-24 lead following a conversion from Staunton before they wrapped up the set with a Jessica Galanza block on HD Spikers’ Toni Rose Basas.
It was a seesaw battle for both teams in the fifth set before the Cool Smashers surged to a 12-9 lead courtesy of Pons, but the HD Spikers leaned on consecutive hits from MJ Perez to cut the deficit to 11-12.
Back-to-back connections from Staunton and Galanza gave the Cool Smashers a 14-11 edge. The HD Spikers answered with back-to-back hits to trim the deficit to 13-14 before Galanza sealed the championship with an off-the-block hit.
“Thankful lang talaga at na-survive namin itong game na ito, sobrang sunod sunod ng games, sobrang tight ng schedule pero na-survive pa din namin to win the championship and get the grand slam,” Pons said.
Perez finished with a PVL career-high of 42 points, including 37 attacks, three service aces and two blocks, while Jackielyn Acuna and Frances Xinia Molina ended with 10 markers apiece for the HD Spikers.
Meanwhile, Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan salvaged a bronze medal finish with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-20 victory of the EST Cola of Thailand. Low Mei Cing spearheaded the attack for the Ablaze with 14 points./PN
