Creamline bench overwhelms Gerflor

Games Saturday
(Candon City Arena, Ilocos Sur)
4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs F2
6 p.m. – Nxled vs PetroGazz

MANILA, Philippines – Creamline displayed its intimidating bench depth as it overpowered a hapless Gerflor, 25-15, 25-12, 25-10, Thursday to seize the solo lead in the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Michele Gumabao presided over the carnage and unloaded a match-high 12 points that she laced with 10 booming spikes to help power the Cool Smashers to their third straight win and into the top.

“It feels good to see lahat ng ginagawa namin sa practice sa game na ito,” said Gumabao, a beauty queen on the side. “It all starts in practice, we njust have to show up every day, every morning and try to contribute as much as we can may it be in points or digs.”

It was a lopsided victory that Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses had the luxury to rest his big guns like skipper Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jemma Galanza, Pangs Panaga, Risa Sato and Bernadeth Pons.

Heading Creamline’s bench mob were Pau Soriano and Lorie Bernardo, who combined for 10 hits.

“Bench players namin pang first six,” said Meneses. “Tinitgnan namin what’s best for the team, good problem ito for us coaches. Kailangan lang talaga ng consistency para makalaro each game.”

Libero Kyla Atienza also made her much awaited return from injury and suited up in the second and third sets.

The Defenders absorbed their third straight loss.

Meanwhile, the league goes to Candon, Ilocos Sur where it will host a pair of explosive games pitting F2 Logistics (1-1) against Galeries Tower (0-2) and Petro Gazz (2-0) versus Nxled (1-1) at the Candon City Arena.

The out-of-town sortie marked the first time the PVL is going to the North after holding its historic 2021 bubble in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.