MANILA – Alyssa Valdez returned for Creamline Cool Smashers as they swept PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19 in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles standout made her presence felt by tallying 13 points, with 12 coming from attacks and one from a block, as the Cool Smashers maintained their perfect record at 7-0.
According to Valdez, she doesn’t mind if there are games in which she only played limited minutes or if there are matches in which she was not used at all by head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Honestly, we are very happy kung sino ang pinapalaro ng coaches. It was a long conference for the whole team,” said Valdez, who was named Player of the Game in the win.
“Ang mindset ko, kapag pinaglaro ako, I have to know my role and I have to contribute to the team,” she added. “I am happy because sinuportahan ako ng mga teammates ko for this game.”
Jessica Galanza backed up Valdez’s offensively with 12 points, while Michele Gumabao and Diana Carlos ended with 10 markers apiece as the Cool Smashers moved closer to a semis seat.
“Happy kami kasi nakakuha kami ng three sets, lumalapit kami sa semifinals,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses. “We still need to improve every game, so all-out pa din kami sa next games.”
Savannah Davison top-scored with 14 points, Erika Santos delivered 11 points while Aklanon Dell Palomata and Mika Reyes finished with seven and four points, respectively, for the High Speed Hitters, which dropped to 5-3.
In the first game, the Akari Power Chargers halted their three-game losing skid with a 25-18, 25-15, and 25-19 straight-set victory over the also-ran Quezon City Gerflor Defenders to stay in Final Four contention.
Faith Nisperos and Christine Joy Soyud stepped up for the Power Chargers, contributing an identical 11 points each, while Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Mereophe Sharma added eight points apiece as Akari improved to 4-4./PN
