Cool Smashers, Angels arrange PVL Finals II

MANILA,Philippines — Creamline took PetroGazz challenge to heart, matching its recent title tormentor’s sweep of its semifinal rival yesterday by blasting Motolite, 25-18, 25-15, 25-8, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan to seal a second straight face-off for the Premier Volleyball League diadem.

Unlike in their Game One victory where they had to shake off a mediocre start to repulse the Motolite side, 18-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-14, the Cool Smashers stamped their class early then simply outclassed their hapless rivals in the last two frames to complete their sweep of their best-of-three series.

Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao played true to form in offense while Jia Morado kept the team’s scoring options open with her superb playmaking skills that left Motolite’s defense guessing majority of the way.

The victory was Creamline’s 18th straight, counting its sweep of the double-round elims, and moved the Cool Smashers to a fourth straight finals and two wins away from completing a grand sweep of the Open Conference.

PetroGazz, which rallied from a game down and stunned Creamline in the next two to snare the Reinforced Conference title, primed up for its highly anticipated title rematch with Creamline by sweeping BanKo-Perlas in their own semis playoff.

Sustaining their hot form hours after beating the Perlas Spikers in the series opener, 25-22, 25-15, 25-20, the Angels survived their rivals’ tough stand in the opening frame then imposed their will and power in the next two to fashion out a 28-26, 25-17, 25-17 victory.

Game One of the Finals is on Nov. 6.