Creamline survives Petro Gazz to remain unscathed; Chery Tiggo, PLDT, F2 punish foes

The Creamline Cool Smashers kept their record unblemished after outlasting the Petro Gazz Angels in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2023 2nd All-Filipino Conference on Thursday night at the Philsports Arena. 

Creamline placed at the top of the standings with a 5-0 record while the Petro Gazz Angels were dealt their second straight loss to tally a 4-2 win-loss slate. 

In the deciding set, Petro Gazz’s Remy Palma made a costly service error to put Creamline at match point 14-11.

However, the Angels scored two points from an Aiza Pontillas through-the-block swipe and Creamline’s four touches violation, 14-13. 

Tots Carlos gave no room for Petro Gazz to tie the game and hammered a kill to end the match, 15-13.

“‘'Yung 5-0 (standing) talagang trinabaho talaga ng players namin, kahit may nawala sa amin, okay lang, 'yung experience nandiyan ‘yan. Kaya dapat trabaho lang.”

(Our players worked hard for the 5-0 standing, even though there were several key players who left the team, we still have experience. We will continue working.)

Carlos was talking about former teammates Jia De Guzman and Ced Domingo who took their talents abroad.

Creamline's Michelle Gumabao scattered 19 points, while Grethcel Soltones put up 23 points for the Angels.

Prior to this, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers (5-1) survived the pesky Nxled Chameleons (1-5) in a four-set affair, 22-25, 31-29, 25-23, 28-26. 

Chery Tiggo’s Imee Hernandez injured her left knee after a bad fall in the second set where they were down by six, 21-15. 

Despite Hernandez being out of the game, the Crossovers kept their composure and made a 7-3 run to tie the game at 24-all.

After six deuces, Chery Tiggo prevailed in the cardiac second set, 31-29, en route to winning the next two sets.

Meanwhile, the PLDT High Speed Hitters (5-1) took their fifth consecutive win after sweeping the Galeries High Tower Risers (0-6), 29-27, 25-14, 25-18, while the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers (4-2) made quick work of the Gerflor Defenders (0-6), 25-10, 25-16, 25-14. 

—Nicole Bugauisan/JKC, GMA Integrated News