Creamline continued its relentless march toward another finals appearance, repelling Cignal, 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, at the MOA Arena on Monday night and moving just two wins away from sweeping the Premier Volleyball League Invitational 2024 crown.
The two-hour, 15-minute victory, their third straight, not only clinched the Cool Smashers the first finals slot in the five-team tournament but also brought them closer to an unprecedented season sweep of all three league titles. The crowd favorites are now eyeing their 10th overall crown and fourth consecutive title, building on last year’s triumph in the All-Filipino Conference.
The Cool Smashers, who rallied past the HD Spikers in a gripping semifinal clash during the Reinforced Conference en route to another championship, are heavily favored to dispatch the winless Farm Fresh Foxies in tomorrow’s (Wednesday) final eliminations match at the PhilSports Arena.
Cignal and defending champion Kurashiki, both with 2-1 slates, dispute the other finals berth, also tomorrow, with the one-game finals set on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Creamline’s sweep bid was thwarted by a resurgent Cignal in the third set, but the Cool Smashers quickly regained control in the fourth. Holding steady with a series of two- and three-point leads, they built a 21-17 advantage, highlighted by a twisting swing from Bernadeth Pons.
Cignal fought back with consecutive points, closing the gap to two, but Creamline capitalized on a crucial error when Roselyn Doria’s attack hit the net, restoring a three-point cushion.
The Cool Smashers then maintained their edge with a solid defensive stand against MJ Perez, whose late-game attacks were repeatedly foiled.
Perez’s final backrow attempt sailed wide, sealing the victory for Creamline.
“I needed to step out for a bit to get a clearer perspective and re-assess the game,” said Negrito in Filipino, referring to her brief exit earlier. “I had to take a breather and think things through.”
Once Negrito returned to the court, there was no stopping her as she masterfully orchestrated the Cool Smashers’ attack. She finished with 22 excellent sets and contributed seven points, earning Best Player of the Game honors.
Her exceptional playmaking orchestrated a well-balanced attack for Creamline, consistently confounding Cignal's defense.
Erica Staunton powered through with her thunderous hits from both the wings and the backrow, while Bernadeth Pons showcased her versatility with a mix of drop shots, pushes and precise attacks. Michele Gumabao also made her presence felt, delivering crushing blows that kept Cignal on the back foot.
Staunton fired 27 points, Gumabao sizzled with 19 markers and Pons added 15 points to underscore the team’s balanced offensive sock.
Perez came away with 35 points but struggled in the face of the Cool Smashers’ solid defense in the clutch. Ces Molina added 19 markers while Ria Meneses added six points and Doria and Gel Cayuna matched five-point outputs for Cignal.
After cruising through the first set, Creamline squandered significant leads in the second, turning it into a tense back-and-forth affair at the finish. Cignal had multiple chances to level the match, but Creamline’s resilience and coach Sherwin Meneses’ strategic adjustments kept them in control.
The Cool Smashers saved three set points and squandered one of their own before Staunton’s smart drop shot gave them a 28-27 advantage. Perez, frustrated by Creamline's defense, committed a crucial attack error on the next play.
In a last-ditch effort, Cignal challenged for a block touch, but the call stood, handing Creamline a commanding 2-0 set lead.
Despite being down two sets, however, Cignal refused to be discouraged and came into the third with renewed focus, dictating the tempo and thrilling the fans with a series of intense rallies. The set reached a dramatic climax when a Creamline communication error allowed Cignal to pull ahead, 16-14, in the last technical timeout.
The HD Spikers then unleashed a fiery finishing run, spearheaded by Perez, offensive prowess, coupled with the HD Spikers’ dominant floor and net defense, kept Cignal's hopes alive.
Perez was unstoppable during a crucial 9-3 surge, repeatedly scoring from the wings and outshining Staunton and the rest of the Cool Smashers' firepower.
Her down-the-line crosscourt hit against Kyle Atienza brought Cignal to set point at 24-17, and the striking Venezuelan import sealed the set with a perfectly placed serve into an unguarded spot in the middle, rekindling Cignal's bid for the finals.
The Cool Smashers’ strong stand in the fourth frame, however, frustrated the HD Spikers.
