Creamline yielded a set for the first time after a nine-set romp in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference elims but the Cool Smashers overcame a huge deficit in the third frame on its way to a 25-19, 24-26, 26-24, 25-19 victory over the Akari Power Chargers at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday night.
The Cool Smashers completed that big rally in the pivotal set then pulled away from a tight 16-all count in the fourth behind Kyle Negrito’s power serves and smart plays that anchored the defending champions’ decisive 9-3 closing run that wrapped up the two-hour, 20-minute victory.
Creamline thus swept its way to the semis with a 4-0 card and will carry a 1-0 slate to the next round on account of its win over the other Pool A semifinalist, which will be either PLDT or Chery Tiggo with the High Speed Hitters and the Crossovers disputing the other slot at the close of the single round elims on Tuesday.
Negrito took over for the Cool Smashers in the stretch, delivering a couple of aces with her sidespin serves, both targeting Trisha Genesis on Zone 5, while coming through with a clutch two-handed push to an unguarded spot in the same zone to all but put away the Power Chargers’ fierce challenge.
Akari, which dropped a five-set setback to Chery Tiggo last Tuesday, fell to 0-3 in a tie with Gerflor.
Jema Galanza unleashed a 16-point game, including 13 attack points, while fellow heavy-hitter Tots Carlos banged in 14 kills and Alyssa Valdez provided solid support with 12 points and Ced Domingo and Pangs Panaga each scored 11 points for the Cool Smashers, who last dropped a set in the All-Filipino Conference last March 14, also to the Power Chargers.
Despite the Cool Smashers’ edge in firepower, however, the Power Chargers proved up to the task, coming through with a total of 56 attack points, just one short of their fancied rivals, as Dindin Manabat and Faith Nisperos knocked down 18 points apiece and Genesis and Joy Soyud added 10 and eight points, respectively.
Negrito wound up with three points while Michele Gumabao likewise made a strong impact in a limited stint, helping Domingo on the net while flicking away a couple of booming spikes that pierced through Akari’s defense.
But it was a sorry loss for Akari, which charged back and stole the second set on a late burst and sustained its form to race to an 11-4 bulge in the third. But the Cool Smashers worked their way back into the game and then leaned on their firepower and experience to outduel the Power Chargers in a nail-biting finish.
Two-to-one up and all-pumped up, Creamline kept flexing its muscles in the fourth and took four, five-point leads but Akari kept fighting back through grit and big hits from Nisperos.