Bracing for a skirmish, Creamline instead took a virtual cruise to the final round as it pounced on Myla Pablo’s absence to fashion out a 25-15, 25-18, 25-16 victory over Pocari-Air Force in their sudden death for the first championship berth in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference yesterday.
Alyssa Valdez unleashed a 15-hit game, including six straight in a key third set breakaway, while Thai reinforcement Kuttika Kaewpin also fired 15 markers as the top-seeded Cool Smashers completed their fightback from 0-1 down to win their best-of-three semis playoff at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
The victory thus set Creamline up for a first-ever crack at the championship after two third place finishes in last year’s inaugurals of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.
Creamline will face the winner between BanKo-Perlas and PayMaya, being played at presstime, for the crown tomorrow. The loser tangles with Pocari for third place.
It was a sorry setback for the last year’s champions, who came into the match brimming with confidence despite dropping Game Two but whose fortunes took a swift turn after Pablo hurt her back during the pre-game warm-ups, forcing the former league MVP to miss the all-important match.
Pablo, who normed 24 points in the first two games in the semis, was in pain as the team therapist worked on her back minutes before the match.
“Pag-receive ko sa warmup na-twist ko yung likod ko. Yung same part na na-injure dati,” rued Pablo, also a vital cog in Pocari’s floor defense. “Yung bola kasi lumihis, pagtagilid ko biglang parang may nabanat. Masakit talaga.”
Without the former National U star, the Cool Smashers went to town and finished with 45 attack points, 20 more than the Lady Warriors. Creamline also scored 11 aces as against Pocari’s five.
But with or without Pablo, the Cool Smashers said they came to Game Three armed to the teetj.
“Instead of dampening our spirits, the Game One loss fueled us to each the finals. We’re thankful for everything that happened to the team,” said Valdez.
“But things happen that we don’t expect. Ate Myla is one of the main factors why Pocari is a strong team. Defensively or offensively, she’s there to help,” added the former Ateneo stalwart of Pocari’s fallen skipper.
Valdez was at her best in the third when she strung up six straight hits, including a couple of drop shots, to rally the Cool Smashers from a 6-8 deficit to a 13-10 lead with Risa Sato accounting for the other point on an ace.
Michelle Gumabao and Jema Galanza then joined in the fray while Kaewpin finishing off the Lady Warriors with an off-the-block hit.
Sato ended up with 10 points while Gumabao had eight markers and import Laura Schaudt added five hits.
Arielle Lova unloaded 11 hits and Maddie Palmer added nine points but the duo failed to neutralize Creamline’s firepower, finishing with 48 digs against the Cool Smashers’ 68.
, drawing 22 points from five-time UAAP MVP Marck Espejo, foiled PLDT, 25-23, 25-19, 33-31, to nail the first finals berth in the men’s division of the league.CignalMeanwhile,