MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers kept its title-retention bid alive with a 27-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24 triumph against Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Thursday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Jessica Galanza finished with 23 points, built on 20 attacks, two blocks, and one service ace, to be named Player of the Game as the Cool Smashers leveled their single-round robin semis standings at 1-1.
Down 22-24 late in the fourth set, the Cool Smashers got a break after the Angels’ MarJana Phillips committed a service error and Negrense Jonah Sabete had an attacking error, tying the score at 24-all.
Galanza then stepped up for the Cool Smashers with a down-the-line hit to take a 25-24 lead. She then followed this up with a booming hit from the middle to secure the hard-earned win for the defending champions.
“Ibinigay ko lang ang lahat kasi ganun ko kamahal ang Creamline family,” Galanza said. “In-enjoy ko lang ‘yung laro kasi, sabi nga ni coach, na ito ‘yung mga laro na masarap laruin kasi may pressure.”
She added: “Lagi lang namin iniiisip ‘yung pinagdaanan ng team ngayong conference, and ayaw namin masayang lahat ng pinaghirapan namin, kaya ibinuhos na namin lahat sa larong ito.”
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho Flying Titans moved closer to a final seat after a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 beating of Chery Tiggo Crossovers, which is now out of finals contention with the loss.
Honey Royce Tubino finished with 17 points, built on 15 attacks and two blocks, to be named Player of the Game as the Flying Titans improved to a 2-0 win-loss slate in the semifinals round.
After flawless wins in the first two sets, the Flying Titans were tested in the third frame as the Crossovers kept the match close at 22-23 before Choco Mucho got a conversion from Tubino to reach match point at 24-22.
The Crossovers, however, responded with an attack from Eya Laure to cut the deficit to 23-24, but a crucial service error by Chery Tiggo’s Pauline Gaston sealed the win for the Flying Titans./PN
