Creamline exacts sweet revenge

CEBU, Philippines — The Creamline Cool Smashers served a payback as they outsmarted the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Blue Eagles with a four-setter in the final day of their goodwill games yesterday at the University of San Jose Recoletos-Basak campus gymnasium.

Led by volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, the Cool Smashers showed their might to put down the Lady Eagles who stunned them during their first encounter last Saturday.

The Cool Smashers started strong with a 25-17 win in the first set, but the younger Lady Eagles immediately bounced back in the second frame, 25-22, through the efforts of Cebuana Deanna Wong, Bea De Leon and Maddie Madayag.

Cool Smashers maintained their composure as they regroup and staged an assault behind the witty attacks of Jia Morado and Jamela Suyat. Lady Eagles tried to steal the third set, but Creamline secured it, 25-23.

With momentum on their side, coach Oliver Almadro-mentored Creamline took control in the fourth set and eventually wrapped up the match, 25-10.

"It was really a very exciting and fun experience and we hope that we can go back and play again here," said Valdez.

The Stars and Spikes Invitational tournament a fundraising event for the benefits of Boot and Cogon Pardo Senior Citizens Association and USJ-R’s athletics scholarship program.

Earlier, the USJ-R spikers escaped with a four-setter thriller against the Southwestern University- Phinma, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23,20-25,15-13, in the preliminary game.  — (FREEMAN)