PVL: Creamline denies Galeries to complete 11-game elims sweep

Creamline recovered from a first-set stumble to turn back upset-seeking Galeries Tower, 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 25-13, and complete an impressive 11-game elimination round sweep of the PVL 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena. 

The Cool Smashers needed almost two hours to crush the Highrisers en route to closing out the regular season as the top seed to arrange a semifinals duel with fourth seed Chery Tiggo. Meanwhile, red-hot Choco Mucho and Cignal will duke it out in the other pairing of the best-of-three semis.

It was a total team effort for the Cool Smashers, who decided to sit out Alyssa Valdez in the game, with Jema Galanza shining with a team-high 12 points, including the win-sealing attack in the fourth set. 

Bernadeth Pons also made her presence felt with 10 markers and 12 excellent receptions while Jeannette Panaga, Tots Carlos, and Rosemarie Vargas stepped up with eight points apiece with the latter delivering back-to-back aces that sent them to a 20-8 lead in the final frame. 

The HD Spikers, on the other hand, blanked the struggling Gerflor after a dominant 25-22, 25-11, 25-10 win behind Ces Molina and Geneveve Casugod who both tallied nine points as they capped off the eliminations with an 8-3 card. 

The win allowed Cignal to gain some kind of momentum before heading to a dogfight against the Flying Titans, who are currently on a roll with a 10-game winning streak. 

Capping the elimination round was the five-set escape of PLDT against Petro Gazz, 16-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 15-7, that saw the High Speed Hitters close out their campaign on a high note. 

Filipino-Canadian spiker Savannah Davison carried the fight with a whopping 29-point outing built on 26 attacks and three blocks laced with 10 digs and 15 receptions to tow the team to an improved 7-4 slate for fifth place. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News