MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers secured a seat in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals after a 25-23, 25-16, and 25-21 beating of the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Jessica Galanza led the offense with 14 points on nine attacks, four service aces, and one block, along with nine excellent receptions and eight excellent digs as the Cool Smashers recorded its eighth win in as many matches.
Michele Gumabao and Diana Carlos chipped in 12 points each, while Alyssa Valdez ended up with seven points in her two sets of appearance for the defending champions Creamline.
The Cool Smashers had to fend off a gritty Chameleons squad in the first set, where they trailed by as much as five points, and in third set, where they went on a 5-0 finishing run to erase a 21-20 deficit.
“Medyo senior ‘yung team namin (compared to NXLED). Kaya nila mag-adjust talaga. Naka-recover kami doon sa first set,” said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“’Yung adjustments sa situation lang ang naging lamang namin kasi talagang lumalaban talaga ‘yung NXLED so naka-adjust talaga ‘yung players namin lalo na nung first set,” he added.
Jhoanna Maraguinot was the lone double-digit scorer for Nxled with 14 points, along with 12 excellent receptions. The Chameleons suffered their sixth loss of the tournament, slipping to 3-6 in the standings.
Choco Mucho Flying Titans, meanwhile, clawed back from a set down to defeat the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13, to join their sister team Cool Smashers in the semis.
Libero Thang Ponce displayed her defensive prowess as she tallied 23 excellent digs to be hailed Player of the Game for the Flying Titans, which notched its eighth consecutive win after losing their first game of the conference.
Akari Power Chargers, on the other hand, kept its semifinals hopes alive after a 25-14, 25-21, and 25-19 sweep over the Galeries Tower Highrisers. They improved to a 5-4 win-loss slate./PN
