ILOCOS NORTE—Creamline rallied past Perlas, pulling off a 25-12, 22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10 victory on Friday to claim the top spot in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference.
In a virtual repeat of its five-set turnaround against Choco Mucho a couple of nights ago, the veteran-laden Cool Smashers pulled through again, roaring back from a 1-2 set deficit behind Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga and Tots Carlos to frustrate a surprisingly tough Perlas side and close out their single round campaign with an 8-1 mark.
That netted the powerhouse team, which ruled this tournament in the then semipro PVL in 2019 before the pandemic disrupted the 2020 season, top ranking in postseason play where it will play the No. 4 squad in a best-of-three series.
The Nos. 2 and 3 teams clash for the other finals berth with Choco Mucho (6-1), Chery Tiggo (6-2) and Petro Gazz (6-2) disputing the final rankings late Friday and Saturday. The semis fires off on Sunday.The Perlas Spikers, who had looked poised for a grand exit after seizing control in the third set, struggled in the fourth in the face of the Cool Smashers’ strong fightback and never recovered.
Jho Maraguinot and Cherry Nunag tried to rally the Spikers to within 12-9, but Valdez stalled them with a kill and the Cool Smashers claimed the win on the Spikers’ back-to-back backrow attack mishits that sandwiched Maraguinot’s last power hit.Perlas took its seventh loss against a win.
Valdez uncorked a 22-attack game for a 24-point output, while Carlos sizzled with 20 points and Galanza and Michele Gumabao finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Creamline.