Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Especially with how the opener ended, Creamline is expecting a fightback from PetroGazz in Game 2 of Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Saturday.
The Cool Smashers and the Angeles were locked in a close fight in the fourth set but an overreach by Cherry Nunag handed Creamline the 24-26, 25-16, 26-16, 25-22 win.
“For sure PetroGazz has that motivation again to come back with the earnest to win again,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez who had 16 points. “Of course they don’t want to lose this way so we’re going to prepare for what happens.”
Valdez, though, believes the right call was made during the crucial play.
“It was a crucial call but I think it was a judgment call of the referee and we could also see it on the replay,” said Valdez.
“For me, of course I’m a little bit biased, the ball was still within our court because if you’re called with an overreaching call you’re preventing the other side from continuing their play.”
From a 17-all deadlock in the fourth set, Cool Smashers managed to take a two-point lead, 19-17 but could not get a considerable distance.
Janisa Johnson’s backrow kill put the Angels to within one, 23-22, but Ale Blanco sent the Cool Smashers to the 24-22 match point off of Wilma Salas’ block before Nunag’s error.