Creamline turns back Pocari-Air Force, forces semis rubber match

Creamline kept its title aspirations alive after turning back Pocari Sweat-Air Force, 25-16, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17, in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball Reinforced Conference Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Cool Smashers pulled out all the stops and tied the three-game series at 1-1.

From a close 8-6 affair in the start of the fourth set, the Cool Smashers upped the ante and built a 16-10 lead courtesy of Kuttika Kaewpin’s back-to-back crosscourt kills.

Michele Gumabao pushed the envelope further later in the fourth set scoring two consecutive points for Creamline for the 23-15 lead.

“I think it was shown in today’s game that everyone really wanted this win,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez. “Everyone who played, our teammates in the bench, even the coaching staff wanted to win.”

Risa Sato put the Cool Smashers to the 24-15 match point off Jia Morado’s perfectly timed set and Kaewpin finished things off with an off-the-block kill.

Gumabao put up a game-high 18 points to lead the Cool Smashers while Valdez had 15 points.

Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt also finished in double figures for Creamline with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Madeline Palmer and Myla Pablo had 17 and 15 points, respectively, for the Lady Warriors.

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