With semis matchups set, Creamline takes perfect run into duel vs Chery Tiggo

Jema Galanza (No. 23) thinks she still can do better, especially now that Creamline’s next game will be a semifinal duel against Chery Tiggo. —PVL IMAGES

Creamline looks sharp for its title defense in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference and the Cool Smashers will take a perfect slate into the semifinals after hiking their winning streak to 11 games.For coach Sherwin Meneses, the team can even be sharper.

“[The 11-game win streak] is a big deal since it boosted the players’ morale,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses told the Inquirer in Filipino. “But I always tell [the Cool Smashers] that this is the time that we need to perform even better.”

“[O]f course our goal is much higher than an elimination [round] sweep.”

The Cool Smashers will battle No. 4 Chery Tiggo in a best-of-three series for a Finals berth after dominating every aspect of their matchup against Galeries Tower on Tuesday for a 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 25-13 victory at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Heavily favored

The reigning queens are heavily favored against the Crossovers, who finished tied with Cignal at 8-3 (win-loss) but was relegated to the fourth seed because of the points system.

But it’s not only Meneses that thinks Creamline can do better than its victory against one of the league’s bottom-dwellers.

Jema Galanza, who finished with 12 points mostly on attacks, is one of the Cool Smashers who is striving to be better with the semifinals starting in just two days.

“Am I happy [with our Galeries win]? I am a bit happy but I am still looking for more from myself so I need to [work] ‘triple-time’ since our opponent on Thursday will be difficult,” Galanza said.

Cignal also finds little reason to celebrate after sweeping off Gerflor, 25-22, 25-11, 25-10, in the earlier game to secure the third seed.

Even Vanie Gandler, who turned 23 on Tuesday, was in no mood to celebrate. INQ