MANILA – Creamline Cool Smashers rallied from a 1-2 deficit to score a 17-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-11, 15-8 victory over Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL Invitational Conference on Thursday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Michele Gumabao powered the defending champions Cool Smashers with a team-high of 22 points built on 18 attacks and four blocks, while also tallying 15 excellent digs.
Jessica Galanza added a double-double of 18 markers and 17 receptions, while skipper Alyssa Valdez contributed a triple-double of 11 points, 12 digs, and 14 receptions.
âSiguro unang-una, na-sweep din [nila] kami nung first round ng eliminations then nakabawi kami. Ibang iba na âyung mga games, talagang magkakakilala na, sa tingin ko ang naging advantage namin âyung experience ng team,â said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.
After losing the third set, Creamline responded with a dominant 25-11 win in the fourth to force a decider. The Cool Smashers surged to a 7-3 lead in the fifth behind Gumabao and never relinquished control.
Cignal closed in at 8-6, but Creamline pulled away after a 4-0 run highlighted by hits from Gumabao and Valdez along with errors from Gel Cayuna. Despite late miscues from Valdez, Galanza sealed the match with back-to-back kills after two hours and 21 minutes of play.
Setter Kyle Negrito directed the offense with 32 excellent sets while scoring four points. Jeanette Panaga and Sheena Toring chipped in 15 combined markers for Creamline.
Heather Guino-o paced Cignal with 21 points, 12 digs, and seven receptions but was held scoreless in the decider. Erika Santos, fresh off her PVL On Tour MVP run, finished with 11 markers as the HD Spikers slid to 0-2.
Meanwhile, PLDT High Speed Hitters opened its Invitational campaign with a dominant 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 sweep of Chery Tiggo Crossovers despite playing without Savannah Davison, Kim Dy, and Kim Fajardo.
Rookie Alleiah Malaluan made an immediate impact in her professional debut, finishing with 11 points, 13 excellent digs, and nine receptions, nearly completing a triple-double in the one-hour, 25-minute encounter./PN
