Creamline sweeps way to Open title

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline completed a perfect season as it downed Petro Gazz, 25-18, 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, last night and blazed its way to the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference title before a sellout crowd at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

Alyssa Valdez came through in the clutch anew, dispatching the banged-up Angels to cap a two-game series win and an eight-game conference sweep. It was the first championship for the Cool Smashers in the PVL’s pro era.

Overall, it was the fourth crown for the Rebisco-owned franchise after snaring three titles in 2018 and 2019, including two against Petro Gazz.

But this was the sweetest as it redeemed Creamline from last season’s heartbreaking loss to eventual winner Chery Tiggo. In that title series, Creamline took the first game, dropped the second and led two sets to none in the deciding Game 3 only to blow it in the end.

The Cool Smashers made sure there would be no meltdown this time as they played with grit and steely nerves to claim the triumph.

“Hindi kami papayag. Gustong-gusto namin makuha ito (We didn’t let that happen. We really wanted to get this),” said Tots Carlos, the conference MVP.

Valdez followed up her 26-point effort in a 25-16, 23-25, 25-12, 32-30 win in the series opener last Wednesday with another clutch effort. She unloaded match-high 20 points, including three of her team’s last four hits in the deciding frame.

It was a vintage performance that merited the Finals MVP plum for the player who is regarded as the face of Philippine volleyball.

Jema Galanza wound up with 18 points while Carlos had 17.

Creamline’s victory enabled Cignal to clinch third place due to a higher quotient against Choco Mucho.

Petro Gazz, its players tired and weary, including Grethcel Soltones who was not supposed to play yesterday due to a swollen knee, settled for yet another runner-up finish, their second in three championship appearances.

Carlos was earlier crowned MVP and made it a twin-kill after being named the league’s Best Opposite Spiker.

Carlos joined Chery Tiggo’s Jaja Santiago as the MVP awardees in the PVL since the league turned pro last year.

Other awardees were Cignal’s Ces Molina and Soltones (outside spikers), Cignal’s Roselyn Doria and Riri Meneses (middle blockers), Cignal’s Gel Cayuna (setter) and F2’s Dawn Macandili (libero).