MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers clinched the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational title after a 25-21, 25-19, 25-8 rout of KingWhale-Taipei in the one-game finale on Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Tournament MVP Diana Carlos top-scored with 14 points, while Jessica Galanza contributed 13 markers as the Cool Smashers notched its second straight PVL title after also ruling the Open Conference earlier this year.
Celine Domingo made an impact with 11 points and was named the Finals MVP, Alyssa Valdez had nine points and 13 excellent digs, while Jia de Guzman had 19 excellent sets and nine excellent digs.
For ruling the mid-season conference, the Cool Smashers earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation Championship for Women, which unfolds Aug. 21 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Both teams had a tight exchange in the opening set but the Cool Smashers got a huge lift from Carlos and Galanza down the stretch for a 25-21 escape.
The Cool Smashers were behind 11-17 in the second set before being sparked by consecutive points from Michele Gumabao to turn things around and move closer to coronation.
Sensing the championship, the Cool Smashers surged to an 11-3 lead in the third set and did not encounter troubles since then to finish off the Taiwanese in straight sets.
It was a dominant win for Creamline, who produced 43 attack points, 13 more than the Taiwanese, had eight blocks against their foes’ three and scored seven aces against their rivals’ one.
Meanwhile, Cignal HD Spikers bucked the absence of two key players to score a 17-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-5 victory over a luckless PLDT High Speed Hitters to take the bronze medal.
Rachel Anne Daquis top-scored with 16 points, while Roselyn Doria and Jerrilli Malabanan combined for 27 markers as the HD Spikers ended the conference on a winning note./PN
