PVL: Creamline turns back Akari, looks to improve consistency ahead of semifinals

Creamline Cool Smashers in a PVL game in Iloilo. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Semifinals-bound Creamline wrapped up the elimination round of the Premier Volleyball League’s All-Filipino Conference on a high note after outlasting Akari in four sets, 25-17, 25-22, 27-29, 25-8, at San Agustin Gymnasium in Iloilo on Tuesday.

But despite a thrilling four-setter victory, the Cool Smashers know they still have a lot of work ahead of them for the semifinals round, coach Sherwin Meneses said.

“We still have a lot to improve on come the semis like consistency. Every point is important, we have to be focused even after the points are scored. In the third set, we didn’t really play well but I’m happy that no one got injured and we’ll enter the semis healthily,” coach Meneses said in Filipino.

However, that injury-less lineup will still be without ace player Alyssa Valdez, who is still nursing a knee injury.

“We already prepared how to play even without [Alyssa] at the beginning of this season because as of now, she still can’t play. Our number one priority is her health.”

Creamline, which finished the elimination with a 7-1 record, went on a dominant fourth set after failing to close the game out in the third frame. The Cool Smashers started the salvo with a 16-7 lead before going on an 8-1 run which served as a prelude to Pau Soriano’s game-ending point.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Eli Soyud kept Akari alive in the extended third set with back-to-back hits for 29-27 win, but the Chargers just spotted in the succeeding frame to end their campaign with only two wins in eight games.

Gumabao scored a game-high 19 points for Creamline while Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos scored 17 and 16, respectively.

Soyud was the high-point woman in the Akari loss with 17 to her name while Trisha Genesis finished with nine markers.