MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers clinched a seat in the finals of 2024 PVL Invitational Conference after a 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20 victory over Cignal HD Spikers on Monday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Kyle Negrito finished with 22 excellent sets to go with seven points, built on three service aces, two attacks, and two blocks, as the Cool Smashers surged on top of the standings with a 3-0 win-loss slate.
“Wala rin naman kasing madaling kalaban, every game talagang mahirap, at hindi nila ibibigay ‘yung game ng ganun kadali,” Negrito said during her Player of the Game interview.
Added the former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws playmaker: “Talagang trinabaho namin, tyinaga namin, nasubok ‘yung pasensya namin and happy na nakuha namin ‘yung panalo and ‘yung finals seat.”
After failing to close out the HD Spikers in the third set, the Cool Smashers were engaged in a tight battle in the fourth frame before they took a 21-17 lead on back-to-back conversions from Bernadeth Pons.
The HD Spikers made their last push at 19-21, but the Cool Smashers responded with back-to-back hits from Erica Staunton to make it a 23-19 lead before they secured the win with errors from Cignal.
Staunton fired 27 points, Michelle Gumabao sizzled with 19 markers and Pons added 15 points for Creamline, which will aim for their third straight PVL crown this year on Thursday night.
MJ Perez came away with 35 points, Frances Molina added 19 markers for the HD Spikers, which dropped to second place in the standings with 2-1 win-loss slate, tying defending champions Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan.
EST Cola of Thailand kept their podium finish hopes alive after a 22-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 17-15 victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies. They improved to a 1-3 win-loss slate, while the Foxies dropped to 0-3.
Warisara Seetaloed delivered a match-high 33 points, including 29 powerful attacks, Natthawan Phatthaisong added 18 points, and Nattharika Wasan finished with 10 markers for EST Cola./PN
