Vintage Valdez Leads Cool Smashers Past Crossovers

Games tomorrow (Thursday)

4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs PLDT

6:30 p.m. – Akari vs Galeries Tower

Creamline displayed its dominance and versatility as it swept Chery Tiggo, 25-10, 27-25, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

With the win, the Cool Smashers moved one step closer to the semifinal round.

From an explosive start to a gritty comeback in the second set and a hard-fought finish in the third, Creamline once again showcased its championship pedigree.

Alyssa Valdez led the charge with a vintage performance, delivering 16 points, 13 excellent digs, and nine receptions.

“Through our experiences in tight matches, we’ve been tested many times, and we’ve learned how to respond,” said Valdez, who was named Best Player of the Game.

“But I’d say our chemistry, both on and off the court, makes all the difference. Our trust in each other, especially in crunch time, is something special. Thank you, Lord, we got that second set.”

Clutch Rally Seals the Win

The Cool Smashers stunned the Crossovers by clawing back from an 18-22 deficit in the second set, forcing an extension before pulling off the win.

With Game 1 in the books, Creamline now shifts its focus to Game 2 on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, where it looks to complete a best-of-three quarterfinal sweep.

Despite the dominant win, Valdez remained focused.

“Getting Game 1 is important because it sets the tone for the series. But the job isn’t done yet. We have to work even harder to prepare for Game 2,” she said.

Head coach Sherwin Meneses reached a personal milestone with his 100th victory at the helm.

However, the veteran mentor credited the achievement to his players and the team’s support system.

“I’m grateful for my players, who continue to follow our system and communicate for the betterment of the team. Thanks also to the management—winning has always been Creamline’s goal,” Meneses said in Filipino.

Team Effort Lifts Creamline

While Valdez shone, the win was an all-around effort for the Cool Smashers.

Tots Carlos, who had a quiet start, stepped up in the clutch, finishing with 13 points, including back-to-back off-the-block hits to help secure the victory.

Bea de Leon and Pangs Panaga anchored the net defense, contributing 11 and 10 points, respectively, with each recording five kill blocks.

Setter Kyle Negrito kept Creamline’s offense fluid, dishing out 20 excellent sets—twice the number of her counterpart, Alina Bicar.

On the other side, Shaya Adorador paced Chery Tiggo with 10 points, but the team sorely missed Ara Galang’s usual firepower, as she managed only five points.

Cess Robles and Pauline Gaston chipped in seven markers each, while Seth Rodriguez and Jules Samonte added four and three, respectively.

Stats Tell the Story

Creamline dominated key statistical categories, outclassing Chery Tiggo in spikes (49-35) and blocks (10-4).

Its consistency on both offense and defense powered the three-set sweep.

After their second-set collapse, the Crossovers kept the third frame close, but the Cool Smashers surged ahead late, taking a 22-17 lead following a Valdez down-the-line hit.

Chery Tiggo trimmed the gap to 21-23 after an Ella de Jesus service error, but Carlos came up big in the clutch.

She fired an off-the-block hit after a botched Chery Tiggo attack, then delivered another off-the-block strike to bring the Cool Smashers to match point.

Creamline sealed the victory after Galang committed an attack error.

Road to the Semifinals

With their eyes set on another championship run, the Cool Smashers remain locked in and determined to finish the job.

Coming off a two-week break, Creamline made an early statement in the opening set, quickly taking control despite some early service errors.

Valdez’s precise shot-making helped them build a 10-5 lead, and a spectacular hustle play saw her convert a difficult set into a crucial point, extending the advantage to 17-6.

De Leon took charge in the closing stretch, delivering quick attacks and crucial kill blocks, including a decisive stop against Mary Rhose Dapol, sealing Creamline’s dominant 15-point set win.

The Cool Smashers overwhelmed Chery Tiggo with 14 attack points in the first set, while the Crossovers managed just four.

Despite their slow start, the Crossovers responded in the second frame, engaging in a series of deadlocks before grabbing a 9-6 lead.

Unfazed, the Cool Smashers fought back, tying the set at 13 before taking a 17-15 edge.

Chery Tiggo then unleashed a 4-1 run, with Samonte and Adorador delivering crucial hits to push the Crossovers ahead, 22-18.

Just when Chery Tiggo thought it had control, Creamline responded with a championship-caliber rally.

Aided by an Adorador attack error, the Cool Smashers unleashed a 6-1 counterattack to reach set point at 24-23.

Adorador redeemed herself with a powerful hit to extend the set, and Bicar’s service ace gave Chery Tiggo a set point opportunity.

However, the Cool Smashers remained composed, forcing an extension with a Panaga running attack.

A costly Chery Tiggo rotation error gave Creamline the lead before Panaga sealed the set with a block against Adorador.

It was a heartbreaking collapse for Chery Tiggo, which had appeared in control late in the set.

Despite Adorador and Robles’ efforts, the Crossovers couldn’t overcome Galang’s offensive struggles.

While Chery Tiggo edged Creamline in attacks during the second set (19-17), unforced errors proved costly, with the Crossovers conceding seven free points compared to just three for the Cool Smashers.

With a chance to sweep the quarterfinal series, Creamline heads into Game 2 with momentum, looking to secure a semifinal berth and move one step closer to another championship.