MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers drew first blood in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals after a 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22 Game 1 victory over Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Diana Carlos tallied 16 markers, all coming from attacks, to be named Player of the Game for the Cool Smashers, which took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
Jessica Galanza also ended with 16 markers, Jeanette Panaga came up with 13 points and Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao contributed 11 points each for the defending champions.
“’Yung Choco Mucho talagang hindi rin talaga magpapatalo ‘yan kasi kita niyo naman, sa haba ng conference sila ‘yung nakapasok. Mainit talaga sila sa ngayong conference,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Team effort talaga, so happy ako kasi lahat ng situation na nangyari sa Game 1, nagawan namin ng paraan, pero hindi talaga kami (dapat) magpabaya kasi hindi pa tapos,” he added.
Carlos, a former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons standout, emphasized that their trust among each other and following the system of Meneses are the keys to their winning run.
“Since Day 1 ‘yun naman ang sinasabi namin na tiwala lang sa isa’t isa. Lagi rin naming sinasabi na umiikot lang kami sa isang sistema and we are happy na nagagawa namin ‘yung system na ‘yun inside the court,” Carlos said.
Carlos admitted that there are some portions of Game 1 where the Cool Smashers’ energy were very low, but they managed to conduct some adjustments to maintain their unbeaten record in the season-ending conference.
“We are grateful na nakabawi kami dun sa sets na medyo low kami, from the outside makikita mo na mababa ang energy namin. ‘Yun ang hinahanap ni coach, na mabago ‘yung ikot ng team,” Carlos said.
Madeleine Madayag finished with 18 points, Cherry Ann Rondina had 17 points and Kat Tolentino finished with 16 points for the Flying Titans, which are hoping to bounce back in Game 2 on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum./PN
