Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Creamline finally took down top seed Bali Pure after a 24-26, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 16-14 squeaker on Tuesday to force a do-or-die Game 3 in their Premier Volleyball League semifinals series at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt combined for 45 points while Alyssa Valdez added 15 for the Cool Smashers, who beat the Water Defenders for the first time in four tries.
Valdez’s last point put Creamline in match point before Pau Soriano denied Bali Pure’s Jennifer Keddy to seal the victory.
“Fortunately for us, we were able to get the crucial points. The breaks of the game went to our favor and that’s really the difference in a game like this,” said Creamline assistant coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.
Bali Pure and Creamline dispute a slot in the finals on Thursday.
The Water Defenders erased a 12-8 deficit in the fifth set and even took a 14-13 edge after Keddy repeled Valdez’s attempt.
Kaewpin knotted the count at 14 before Valdez and Soriano put the finishing touches.
Keddy paced Bali Pure with 23 points, highlighted by seven blocks.