Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Skipper Alyssa Valdez may be out but Creamline still played with cool composure and dropped the Power Smashers in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Cool Smashers earned their first three-set win in the conference and improved to a league-leading 5-0 card that gave them a semifinals bye while the Power Smashers are at 1-4.
The Power Smashers were leading 22-20 in the third set, and was poised to hold on to their little bubble, but Pau Soriano showed the savvy and scored Creamline’s final five points.
Creamline assistant coach Oliver Almadro admitted they had to adjust to Valdez’ absence with the 24-year-old joining the national team in Japan for training camp.
“This is the first time without Alyssa so at the start you start to look for your firepower but along the way the team saw that they have to work,” said Almadro. “Everybody delivered and we really showed our depth today.”
Soriano and Rosemarie Vargas led the Cool Smashers with 15 points apiece while Coleen Bravo, who came off the bench in the first set, added 13.
Jia Morado orchestrated Creamline’s offense as she registered 62 excellent sets, a gargantuan figure compared to the Power Smashers’ Vira Guillema who made just 25.
Jovelyn Prado led the Power Smashers with 15 points while Regine Arocha added 10.