CREAMLINE put up a stellar performance to dispose of a badly-outclassed Cignal side, 25-16, 25-21, 25-15, for its second straight victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan City Thursday.
The 78-minute victory came on the heels of the Cool Smashers’ 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 ripping of arch rival Petro Gazz Angels in last weekend’s inaugurals, underscoring their readiness to defend the championship and put in motion a grand slam bid that failed in the Reinforced Conference late last year.
“We’re just doing what we’ve been doing in training for—play our best and not rush things up,” said Jema Galanza, who delivered 13 kills to lead Creamline’s fiery assault and clinch the player of the game honors. “We also try to correct our mistakes quickly.”
Michele Gumabao topscored for the team with 14 points while Tots Carlos matched Galanza’s output and middles Ced Domingo and Pangs Panaga combined for 16 points.
But the high-flying Galanza provided the highlight plays with her stinging spikes to perk up what turned out as a lopsided duel.
“I hope to stay consistent and help provide the leadership and more importantly, improve communication (inside the court),” said the former Adamson University star who also finished with seven excellent receptions.
The Cool Smashers pulled away late in the first set, held off Cignal’s charge midway in the second set then dominated the third with their power plays and quick attacks that the HD Spikers had no answer for.
“We managed to play with chemistry and the breaks, too, went our way,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said. “We stood firm against their rally in the second set, hopefully we can sustain this form.”
Creamline finished with 48 kills, 25 more than the HD Spikers, who produced just one double-digit output courtesy of Ces Molina, who fired 12 points. Chay Troncoso wound up with six points while gunners Roselyn Doria and Rachel Anne Daquis could only combine for seven points and middle blocker Riri Meneses struggled for just three points.
Cignal actually scored 20 points off Creamline’s miscues while yielding 16 of their own but the HD Spikers just couldn’t get their offense going and fell to their second straight defeat following a four-set loss to the Angels last Tuesday.