AVC Cup: Jema Galanza wills Creamline-PH past Iran for first win

Jema Galanza leads Creamline-PH to first win in AVC Cup. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza delivered the big hits in the fourth set as the Philippine women’s volleyball team took down Iran, 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14, to earn its first victory in the AVC Cup on Wednesday at PhilSports Arena.

The Creamline Cool Smashers, once again, relied on the troika of Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, and Michele Gumabao to take a two-set lead before dropping the third set, where they trailed as many as seven, 12-19.

But Galanza displayed grace under pressure in the fourth set, scoring eight of her 21 points to build a formidable 23-11 lead. Iran scored three straight points but Mahsa Khadkhoda’s attack hit the antenna putting the Philippines at matchpoint, 24-14, before Galanza nailed the match-winning attack to end the game in two hours and 12 minutes.

The Philippines tied Iran in Pool A with identical 1-2 records and will try to clinch the No.3 seed heading to the quarterfinals in its last group stage assignment against winless South Korea (0-3) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“In the third set, Iran really set the first pace of the game. We had a hard time catching up because we didn’t have the first ball since their height is really intimidating. But good thing we received well and had good combination plays in the fourth,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.

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Carlos scattered 12 spikes and two blocks to finish with 14 points, while Gumabao had 13 points, including the timely hits in the first two sets that gave her team a 2-0 lead.

Setter Jia De Guzman displayed another brilliant playmaking as middle blockers Jeanette Panaga and Celine Domingo finished with nine points each, combining for five of the home team’s 11 kill blocks.

The Iranians gave up 27 errors in the match as the Cool Smashers outplayed them in attacking, 55-43.

Elahe Shahdehsari led Iran with 13 points, including two aces, Khadkhoda added nine markers as they suffered their second straight loss in three games before wrapping up the preliminary stage against defending champion China (3-0) also on Thursday.