A Creamline side that played without its foremost star on Wednesday found little trouble in dispatching of BaliPure, registering a 25-11, 25-15, 25-17 victory for its 10th straight win in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Jema Galanza took charge in the absence of the injured Alyssa Valdez, and Risa Sato foiled a couple of attacks that helped slow down BaliPure’s charge in the third while Kyle Negrito filled up the void left by playmaker Jia Morado as the Cool Smashers continued to pull away from the nine-team pack.
A far second at 6-2, Motolite was trying to gain on Creamline against Air Force (3-5) at presstime.
Galanza slammed in 13 attack points and finished with 16 for the defending champions, who will take a long break before resuming their sweep bid against the Air Force Jet Spikers on Sept. 29.
BaliPure slid to 2-8.
Earlier, PacificTown Army survived a second set scare to rout Chef’s Classics, 25-11, 25-23, 25-17, and wheel back into playoff contention.
The Lady Troopers remained at fifth with a 5-4 slate behind the fourth-running PetroGazz Angels (5-2), but their repeat victory over the Red Spikers served as a big morale booster for the squad which came into the match reeling from a straight-sets defeat at the hands of the surging Air Force Jet Spikers.
Honey Royse Tubino and Jem Gutierrez stepped up in the absence of Jovelyn Gonzaga, putting up 15 points each with Gutierrez adding seven digs for the Lady Troopers.
PacificTown played without Gonzaga and coach Kungfu Reyes, who are with the national team vying in the inaugural SEA Grand Prix in Thailand this weekend.
“We really needed to bounce back from that loss to Air Force,” said assistant coach Rico De Guzman. “We’ve been working on our defense and trying to develop our teamwork.”
Ging Balse-Pabayo added 10 points while Alina Bicar produced 12 excellent sets for PacificTown Army, which beat Chef’s Classics also in straight sets in the first round on Sept. 7.
Nieza Viray unloaded 15 points for the Lady Red Spikers, who fell to their ninth straight defeat in the season-ending conference.