Creamline silences Choco Mucho

Jia Morado-de Guzman displayed another masterful playmaking to lead Creamline's well-balanced attack to obliterate hapless Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14, for the solo lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The setter efficiently activated the wingers and middles of the Cool Smashers to crush any hopes of the Flying Titans of ending a string of losses to their sister team since the club joined the league in 2019.

Creamline won its third straight game in as many games to occupy the top spot and listed its eighth straight victory over Choco Mucho, which has yet to taste victory in the marquee rivalry between two of the league's biggest crowd drawers. The Cool Smashers have yet to drop a set in the season-opening conference.

De Guzman's playmaking ripped apart the defense of the Flying Titans, who looked disorganized with the Cool Smashers throwing bombs from different directions.

The multi-awarded setter tallied 25 excellent sets to help Creamline punch in 52 attack points.

"She had great ball distribution today," Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses said in Filipino of his prized setter.

Firing at will in front of 9,575-strong Valentine's Day crowd, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao and Ced Domingo wreaked havoc on offense as they posted 15 points each for Creamline.

Galanza and Gumabao combined for 28 kills – five hits more than what Choco Mucho mustered the whole match. Galanza added 18 digs and eight excellent receptions.

Meneses also lauded his teams good floor defense and passing that led to good opportunities for the Cool Smashers to counterattack.

"Of course, everything starts with a good pass. Our defense and receive were great so it made everything easy for Jia," he said.

The Cool Smashers were in control for most of the match only getting into a little trouble early in the third set when the Flying Titans made a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to 9-11.

But Creamline responded with a 14-5 blast to finish off Choco Mucho, which absorbed its second straight defeat.

No one from the Flying Titans, which slid to 1-2 mark, scored in double figures with Des Cheng and Kat Tolentino shackled to only eight markers each.