Cool Smashers drop Water Defenders, stay at No. 2

Game Saturday(Iloilo City)

4 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs Creamline

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline lost its momentum early in the third frame but still found a way to foil a luckless BaliPure side, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, as it firmed up its hold of the second spot in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan yesterday.

Alyssa Valdez took over from imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Aleoscar Blanco, blasting in 12 kills and adding four aces for a 16-point performance as the Cool Smashers racked up their fourth straight victory after an opening day stumble to the PetroGazz Angels to close out their first round elims campaign at second.

Kaewpin backed her up with 11 points while Blanco added nine markers for the defending champions who will head next to Iloilo for the league’s first out-of-town game on Saturday against the BanKo-Perlas Spikers.

The Angels, who are playing with the Perlas Spikers at press time, face the Water Defenders while the Motolite Power Builders and the PacificTown Army Lady Troopers tangle in Imus, Cavite on Sunday.

With Jia Morado ably providing the set plays for Creamline’s hitters, the Cool Smashers took the first two sets in lopsided fashions with coach Tai Bundit trying different combinations. But the Water Defenders parlayed their fancied rivals’ slow start in the third and wrested control at 10-4, only to crumble in the face of the Cool Smashers’ strong comeback.

“We kind of turned a bit complacent after taking the first two sets. But we were able to cash in on the breaks in the third,” said Valdez.