Defending champion Creamline sweeps Cignal for 2-0 start

Creamline stretched its unbeaten start in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference after making quick work of Cignal, 25-16, 25-21, 25-15, on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The defending champions, who were still playing without team captain Alyssa Valdez due to injury, improved to 2-0 while Cignal dropped to 0-2.

After taking the first two sets, the Cool Smashers hardly broke a sweat in the third frame with the core of Tots Carlos, Ced Domingo, Michele Gumabao, and Jema Galanza bringing Creamline to an 11-4 cushion as Cignal continued to struggle to convert.

The middle proved to be a crucial offensive weapon for Creamline as Jeanette Panaga joined in on the scoring party, notching back-to-back attacks for a 10-point advantage, 15-5.

The HD Spikers tried to put up some fight with Ces Molina, Ria Meneses, and Jerrili Malabanan trimming their deficit to eight, 21-13.

But that run was too late for Cignal as Creamline sealed the sweep off a quick kill by Domingo from a Kyle Negrito set.

Gumabao paced Creamline with 14 points alongside eight digs while Carlos and Galanza each finished with 13 markers and seven excellent receptions.

Creamline will next face Choco Mucho on Tuesday while Cignal will look to barge into the win column on the same day against Akari.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News