MANILA, Philippines — Creamline ran into trouble early on but quickly settled down, regaining its dominant touch to clobber Ateneo-Motolite, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15, and claim its second straight title in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Batangas City Coliseum yesterday.
The Cool Smashers overcame a six-point deficit in the first set but encountered little problem from there, displaying their championship poise as they completed a sweep of the match and the best-of-three series.
Creamline took the opener last Wednesday also in straight sets, 25-17, 25-10, 25-15.
The Cool Smashers thus secured their place at the summit anew after winning the Reinforced Conference crown last July.
Jia Morado, named Best Setter before the match, was Finals Most Valuable Player, her second after also receiving the honor in Creamline’s first title win.
The Cool Smashers fell to a lethargic start, trailing behind the Lady Eagles from the onset of the opener, but finally wiped out a 10-16 deficit as they strung up eight straight points on four sorry miscues by the Lady Eagles and 2nd Best Outside Spiker Jema Galanza’s three hits to go in front.
Creamline preserved its lead behind Galanza, Risa Sato, Pau Soriano, Conference MVP and 1st Best Outside Spiker Alyssa Valdez and Morado to secure its come-from-behind set win.
The Cool Smashers then raced to a 16-9 lead behind Gumabao, Soriano and Sato in the second set but doused a a fightback from the Lady Eagles, who inched within 15-16, as Gumabao and Sato struck anew.
Creamline then dominated the third set throughout, storming to an 18-7 lead on the offensive strikings of Gumabao, Morado, Valdez and Soriano and never let up.