BaliPure players celebrate after booking a Finals berth and eliminating Creamline. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
BaliPure crushed Creamline, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16, Thursday on its way to the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at Philsports Arena.
After losing Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinals, the Water Defenders didn’t take chances against the Cool Smashers, riding on the torrid game of Jennifer Keddy and Gretchel Soltones to secure their first championship stint in two years.
They will face the winner of the Pocari Sweat-Power Smashers match late Thursday in the championship series that will begin Saturday.
“I think we were able to avoid making errors and we have better communication inside the court,” said Soltones, who had 13 points, in Filipino.
Keddy also wound up with 13 points, while Jaroensri Bualee and Risa Sato contributed 10 points each.
It was a sorry loss for Creamline’s heart and soul Alyssa Valdez who battled till the end, making 13 markers despite hurting her hitting arm.
Valdez has yet to win a title since 2015. Her Bureau of Customs reached the finals in last year’s Reinforced Conference but ended up getting swept.
Kuttika Kaewpin topscored with 14 markers for the Cool Smashers who will have to settle for the third place match.
Keddy had three of her team’s seven blocks to lead the defense for BaliPure.