Creamline Smashers’ Tots Carlos. PVL MEDIA BUREAU
MANILA, Philippines–Creamline got to start its own campaign in a big way, scoring a lopsided match against PLDT Home Fibr, 25-16, 25-18, 25-22, Thursday night in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Paco Arena in Manila.
The team built around league darling Alyssa Valdez came out ready for war, firing from everywhere and using its vast scoring options like Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Jeanette Panaga. Everyone of them responded well to the superb ball distribution of Jia Morado-De Guzman.
Carlos topscored with 16 points and credited the squad’s training where they “tried to polish our basics like receives, service and even blocking.”
“In terms of manpower nothing changes,” said Carlos. “But we learn something everyday like what happened late in the third,” she added.
The Cool Smashers out-attacked the High Speed Hitters, 26-15, in the first two sets alone as the last year’s runners-up scored with impunity against PLDT’s spotty reception and floor defense. All in all, Creamline buried PLDT on offence, making 38 attacks points against 22 by PLDT.
What was intended to stir the internet because of the match-up between Valdez and PLDT’s Mika Reyes — collegiate league rivals from long ago — turned out to be a mismatch of sorts.
Because Creamline’s tried and tested system ran roughshod on PLDT which was visibly just testing the major reboot it had over the past weeks. The High Speed Hitters underwent major reboot with new coach (George Pascua) and 9 players including Reyes and Rhea Dimaculangan.
The closest the High Speed Hitters could get was 20-21 in the third set on a clawing hit by Reyes. But Carlos put it all away by scoring two of her 16 points in the few exchanges.