CREAMLINE seeks to bury the ghost of the past as it goes for Petro Gazz’s jugular and avert a repeat of its finals collapse last season in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference, which moves to the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Powered by the clutch efforts of Jia De Guzman, Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos, the Cool Smashers turned back the Angels, 25-16, 23-25, 25-12, 32-30, in the series opener on Wednesday at the MOA Arena and could wrap it all up with another triumph in their 6 p.m. duel.
A decider, if necessary, is on Sunday at the same venue.
The power-spiking Mses. Valdez and Carlos uncorked 26 points apiece while Ms. De Guzman had 39 excellent sets to go with four hits including a couple of blocks and 15 excellent digs and should be the focal points of Creamline’s attack again as they shoot for their first crown as pros and fourth overall in the league.
Ms. Morado though stressed the job isn’t complete yet, knowing they also led 1-0 in their series with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte a season back.
But as fate would have it, the Cool Smashers dropped the last two games including the winner-take-all match where they led two sets to none only to lose the last three frames and the crown.
“You can’t win a championship in one game, there’s one more to go,” said Ms. De Guzman, a former Finals MVP who is a strong candidate to win the league’s best setter award.
For the Angels, they would play minus Grethcel Soltones, who have a swollen right knee and awaiting the result of her MRI on Thursday.
Myla Pablo, who had cramps in Game One, and Nicole Tiamzon, who has sore legs, were given the green light to see action.
“Ms. Gretch (Soltones) won’t. Myla and Nicole are sore but yes they will play,” said Petro Gazz coach Jerry Yee.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho likewise goes for the kill in its best-of-three face off with Cignal for third place at 3 p.m.
The Flying Titans took Game One, 25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22. — Joey Villar