Sports
Creamline victorious over Petro Gazz in four-set PVL game
Jema Galanza, who was celebrating her 22nd birthday on the same day, paved the way for her team’s triumph with 24 points and 18 receptions. (File Photo: Creamline Cool Smasher/Facebook)
The Creamline Cool Smashers marked a positive entrance for themselves in the best-of-three series of the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference with a victory over the Petro Gazz Angels in a four-set game last Wednesday, November 28 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The sets ended at 26-28, 25-15, 25-13, and 25-16.
Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcon Jema Galanza, who was celebrating her 22nd birthday on the same day, paved the way for her team’s triumph with 24 points and 18 receptions, also providing 22 spikes. Her teammate, former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagle totalled 18 hits. Teammate Michele Gumabao had 12 points and 16 digs, while middle blockers Risa Sato and Pau Soriano finished with nine-markers. Jia Morado guided her team with 30 successful sets, who Valdez says deserves “most of the credit, because she’s thinking of all the ways to score, not just one or two players.” As for their opponents, only Jessey De Leon performed with double figures, finishing at 11 points, followed by Jonah Sabete and Cherry Nunag, who both finished with eight points.
According to Team Captain Alyssa Valdez, the first set became the wakeup call for the team, stating in a mix of English and Filipino, “If we’re gonna play like that during the first set and the whole game, it’s not unlikely that it will reach the fifth set and we know how strong the defense and blocking of the opponent is when they get confidence.” She added, “We just reminded ourselves that before our opponents gain confidence again before they get more energy, we have to beat them to it and I think it worked.”
The next time the two teams will be competing is on Saturday, December 1. If Creamline reigns victorious, they will immediately enter the finals. If not, Game Three is set for Sunday, December 2.
