PVL: Alyssa Valdez, Creamline anticipating tough Petro Gazz fight back

Creamline star Alyssa Valdez. PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez is bracing for Petro Gazz’s fight back in Game 2 as Creamline tries to capture the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference crown on Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Antipolo.

Game 2 is set at 6 pm, where Valdez and the Cool Smashers seek to bounce back from last year’s runner-up to finish and try to complete a perfect title run for their fourth overall PVL championship.

But the three-time PVL MVP stressed it won’t be easy to close out the series after the Angels showed a glimpse of their best form in Game 1, pushing the Cool Smashers to their limits in the fourth set amid the knee injury of Grethcel Soltones, who is doubtful to return in the series, and the cramps of Myla Pablo.

“It’s always hard to close out a game especially when we’re facing a veteran team. Their players have played in different situations and and experienced a lot of games,” said Valdez after scoring 26 points in Creamline’s 25-16, 23-25, 25-12, 32-30 victory over Petro Gazz in Game 1 on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It all boils down to the more determined team to take Game 2. So we really have to do our roles as a team and prepare well for Friday’s game,” she added.

Valdez was hardly surprised with the gallant stand of Petro Gazz, led by MJ Phillips, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Jonah Sabete and setter Chie Saet, who only committed 12 errors while forcing 27 miscues from Creamline in Game 1.

Thanks to Jia De Guzman’s playmaking that led to well-distributed offense for Valdez, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza.

“It’s the finals. No one is gonna give it right away. They won’t go down without a fight. I guess it’s a glimpse of what will happen in the next game,” she said.

“We have to give credit to Petro Gazz. We were forced to make unforced errors… They are a tough team.  All I can say is they played so many games, especially ate Aiza Maizo and ate Chie (Saet). (Jonah) Sabete also did a good job. They are playing their hearts out.”

Interestingly, Creamline tries to close out the series in Antipolo, where it lost to Petro Gazz in Finals Game 3 of the 2019 Reinforced Conference.

Valdez said the Cool Smashers already learned their lesson from that setback and are hoping to make new memories at Ynares.

“We had a very heartbreaking experience at Ynares in 2019. I guess we’ve learned from that as a team, we’ve been together from 2019 to 2022,” she said. “We will play with extra motivation. We will take that as an inspiration coming this Friday.”