Creamline’s Michele Gumabao during the PVL Invitational Conference.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Two days after ruling the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, Creamline opened its Grand Slam bid with a dominant 25-13, 25-12, 25-15 win over Est Cola of Thailand in the Invitationals on Friday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
After ending a six-year Reinforced title drought with a sweep of the Akari Chargers, the Cool Smashers showed no signs of fatigue and barely broke a sweat in sending the Under-20 Thai national team to a 0-2 record in the five-team field in just 80 minutes.
Michele Gumabao led Creamline with 14 points including one ace and a block to go with eight digs, while Conference and Finals MVP Bernadeth Pons chipped in 10 points, eight digs, and seven excellent receptions.
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“Sabi ni Ate MG kanina kalimutan na namin yung nangyari nung last kasi bagong conference ulit ngayon so kailangan start new din kami kasi kung nagchampion man kami ng last tapos na yun so magtatrabaho ulit kami for this conference,”
Setter Kyle Negrito paced the team with 15 excellent sets on top of four points, as Erica Staunton and Bea De Leon added eight and seven points, respectively.
“Mindset naman namin una pa lang hanggang Invitational. Tapos na yun so bagong mindset,” said Negrito.
Creamline, which has a chance to complete a three-title season finish this year after falling short in the past two years, braces for an Invitational finals rematch against defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze, who leads the league with a 2-0 record, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
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“Siyempre masaya ako at kahit na hindi kami nakapagtraining kahapon maganda pa rin yung nilaro namin,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses. “Hopefully, magtuloy tuloy yung laro namin hanggang matapos yung Invitationals.”
“One game at a time kasi hindi madali dadaanan namin just like nung Reinforced. Sa Sunday versus Kurashiki paghahandaan namin mabuti,” he added.
Warisara Seetaloed was the lone double-digit scorer for Est Cola, which remained winless in two games. The Thais battle the Cignal HD Spikers also on Sunday.