Creamline got its grand slam bid going with a 25-22, 25-18, 26-28, 25-22, victory over PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.
Alyssa Valdez displayed her vintage form, Ced Domingo had a solid game while Turkish import Yeliz Basa proved she was as good as advertised as they led the Cool Smashers to a smashing start in their mission to complete a season sweep.
Back in action after missing Creamline's two international stints due to dengue back in August, Valdez finished with 17 points built on 15 attacks and two kill blocks and was active on floor defense with 15 digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Domingo also had 17 markers including the game-clinching smash while Basa wound up with 17 points off a 17-of-48 spiking clip for the Cool Smashers, who sat out two-time Most Valuable Player Tots Carlos to rest an undisclosed injury.
Creamline, which ruled the Open and Invitational conferences, unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks — 21 in total—- in the fourth frame with Valdez pounding a kill that pushed Creamline at 23-20 advantage.
Russian import Elina Savkina-Samoilenko kept the High Speed Hitters in the game with a hit but Domingo answered with a hit in the next play to put Creamline at match point.
Cool Smashers hitter Jema Galanza committed an error before Domingo delivered the game-winning spike.
"PLDT did a good job scouting us. They made adjustments in the third set and they got the breaks of the game in the closing stretch. Good thing we recovered in the fourth set," Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said, whose squad will face Petro Gazz on Tuesday in a rematch of the 2019 import-laden conference Finals.
Jia Morado-De Guzman tallied 32 excellent sets to help Creamline scatter 65 attack points while Kyla Atienza had 15 digs and 10 excellent receptions.
Savkina-Samoilenko punched three straight points to turn a 21-23 deficit in the third set into a 24-23 advantage for the High Speed Hitters.
Creamline saved three set points before Jovie Prado scored on a hit to put PLDT back on top. A miscue by Risa Sato on a block attempt extended the match.
Savkina-Samoilenko led the High Speed Hitters, who dropped to 1-1 slate, with 24 points including 22 on kills while Mika Reyes had 11 markers on nine attacks, one block and an ace. PLDT defeated Army last week to open its campaign.
