Jema Galanza and the Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza said the Creamline Cool Smashers have to minimize their lapses ahead of their crucial matches in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
The Cool Smashers needed to overcome the tough challenge of the gritty Farm Fresh Foxies to pull off a 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22 victory to stay unbeaten in four games on Tuesday at FilOIl EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Galanza, who poured in 18 points including two aces to go with 10 digs, stressed that their team needs to polish their game after giving up 30 errors, which helped the Foxies force a toe-to-toe duel.
“We should lessen our errors. We shouldn’t play like that when it comes to the important games. We still have a lot to polish and we can’t relax in our next games because it’s going to be harder for us,” said Galanza in Filipino.
Creamline dropped the second set but the former 2019 PVL Most Valuable Player said they just stuck to the system to get the better of the younger Farm Fresh squad in the last two frames for the league lead with a 4-0 record.
Michele Gumabao, who led Creamline with 20 points, agreed with Galanza, also said they e to be more mindful of their movements and decision-making inside the court.
“If there’s one team that [a PVL club] wants to beat, it’s really Creamline. So we have to be mindful of our movements inside the court and when things don’t go our way, we need to adjust and be more aggressive. Like what happened in the game, a lot of things weren’t going our way and a lot of things are out of our system. But we still managed to fight back and the teamwork will always be there,” Gumabao said in Filipino. “Even if the score was always close, our job is to score every point and just execute as much as we can, which we did especially during the endgame.”
For Galanza, being pushed to their limits by the Foxies, led by the troika of Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, and Pia Ildefonso, will help the Cool Smashers play better in their remaining elimination games.
Creamline has more than a week to prepare for its finals rematch against unbeaten Petro Gazz (3-0) on November 9 at Philsports Arena.
“This game is good for us especially since we’re facing Petro Gazz next. Experiencing this kind of tight game made us feel [the intensity]. Hopefully, we will be able to polish our movements in practice,” Galanza said.
Creamline, which won’t have setter Jia De Guzman and Ced Domingo due to their respective overseas stints, is eyeing its second All-Filipino crown this season.