MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers displayed its vaunted firepower as it scored a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 victory over revamped Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference on Tuesday evening at the Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.
Diana Carlos tallied 24 points, including 21 attack points and three blocks, while Jessica Galanza scored 10 hits and two aces as the Cool Smashers took an early 1-0 lead in Group A.
Alyssa Valdez made her Creamline return after suffering a knee injury last December as she delivered three points to go with 10 excellent digs for the defending champions Cool Smashers.
From a 7-all score in the third set, the Cool Smashers hammered out kill after kill and played solid at the net to foil a number of the Crossovers assaults, leading to a 19-12 bulge.
Though the Crossovers gained some momentum to close in at 16-22, Chery Tiggo rookie Ejiya Laure served wide and the Cool Smashers closed them out with a decisive 3-1 scoring run.
“Maganda talaga ‘yung ginagalaw ni Tots (Carlos), lumabas talaga ‘yung laro niya,” said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses. “Siguro masaya na siya kasi bumalik na siya sa totoong (playing) posisyon niya.”
Laure made her PVL debut with double-double 14 points and 15 excellent receptions for the Crossovers, while veteran Mylene Paat contributed nine markers and Pauline Gaston ended with six points.
Guimarasnon Jovelyn Gonzaga had a triumphant return for the Cignal HD Spikers as they scored a come-from-behind 18-25 25-18 25-21 25-22 win over the Petro Gazz Angels in the second game.
Gonzaga, who transferred from Army Lady Troopers during the offseason, made her presence felt for the HD Spikers with 13 points, including 11 attacks, for a winning start in the mid-season conference.
In the first game, F2 Logistics Cargo Movers flaunted its depth and experience to sweep newcomer Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23. Ivy Lacsina top-scored with 13 points for the Cargo Movers./PN
