Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jia de Guzman. –PBA IMAGES
Coming off three straight victories without dropping a set, maybe Creamline would want to take it easy.
Or maybe not.
“We’re still going to train and prepare the best we can for F2,” talented setter Jia de Guzman said as the defending champion Cool Smashers set out to take down another Premier Volleyball League heavyweight in the Cargo Movers Saturday in the All-Filipino Conference eliminations at PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“Every team has its own strengths and weaknesses and we have to be prepared,” De Guzman added. “There are no lightweight teams here.”
The first serve is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. as Creamline tries to sustain the momentum of a sizzling start that did not allow Petro Gazz, Cignal and even bitter rival Choco Mucho to come close to winning a set.
And this match is specifically important for the Cool Smashers since they will be clashing with Chery Tiggo in the weekend with the Crossovers also coming into that match without a blemish.
Meanwhile, Petro Gazz, which will also be coming off a straight-sets win over the Flying Titans, battles Cignal in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser with the HD Spikers looking for a follow up of their breakthrough triumph over Akari last week.
“Their record doesn’t show their true strength,” Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro said of Cignal, which will take a 1-2 record into the match. “That team is known for slow starts and big finishes and we have to guard against that.”
Creamline has shown a relentless attacking game even with Alyssa Valdez continuing to sit it out as De Guzman has gotten the entire roster contributing with the trio of Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos and Michelle Gumabao and two-way star Ced Domingo leading the offense.
The Cargo Movers will be out for redemption after a lackadaisical showing against the Crossovers last Thursday where no player was able to score in double figures. Myla Pablo, who debuted for the team with 21 points against PLDT, slowed down with nine-point outputs in the next two games.