Creamline closes in on semis berth

Creamline is right on track for an outright semifinal berth.

The defending champion needed just three quick sets to dispose of a troubled BanKo Perlas, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16, Saturday night in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.

It was the fifth straight win for the Cool Smashers, who have been in sync since Thai coach Tai Bundit returned to the helm.

Now at 5-1, Creamline is just two wins from making the semifinals outright.

Olympian Aleoscar Blanco of Venezuela testified on the renewed spirits of the Cool Smashers, whose only defeat came at the hands of the unbeaten leader PetroGazz.

“Definitely it’s the system because everyone is happy that coach Tai is back,” said Blanco. “Now we have more connection and feeling and that’s important in a team.”

Creamline took advantage of an adjusting BanKo Perlas, which shipped in Thai import Sutadta Chuewulim to replace problematic import Lakia Bright.

Bright, the heavy-scoring import, was reportedly skipping practice, prompting team officials to sack her after giving her limited time the previous two matches.

BanKo Perlas suffered its third straight defeat and fell to 2-5. —MARC ANTHONY REYES