PRETTIER THAN PINK: Cool Smashers make short work of Chameleons, stay perfect
MICHELE Gumabao and the Creamline Cool Smashers smile their way to a 25-12, 25-21, 25-19 victory over Nxled in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL
Games tomorrow:
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. — Chery Tiggo vs ZUS Coffee
6:30 p.m. — Galeries vs Farm Fresh
Setter Kyle Negrito anchored five-peat-seeking Creamline’s balanced scoring in a straight sets romp of hapless Nxled, 25-12, 25-21, 25-19, to remain unbeaten in six games in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Negrito made her hitters look good with 15 excellent sets as the Cool Smashers brushed off a third-set challenge put up by the Chameleons with a closing 10-1 run to wrap up another dominating win in one hour and 35 minutes.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses had the luxury of emptying his bench with all 12 scoring players contributing points.
Bernadeth Pons scored 12 of her 13 points on kills while adding 12 digs while Tots Carlos added 10 markers with nine off attacks including the game-winning down the line hammer off a perfect backset dish from Negrito.
“Happy that all the players are delivering whenever we field them. Of course, our purpose if to be able to use them in our future games. I guess it’s a blessing to Creamline to get these kinds of good wins,” Meneses said.
“At least, the players are showing strengths consistently.”
Skipper Alyssa Valdez had seven points, Lorie Bernardo, Bea De Leon and Jema Galanza all contributed five markers off the bench for the Cool Smashers, who had 50 kills compared to Nxled’s 26.
Creamline encountered some resistance in the second and third frames after cruising in the first.
The Chameleons even held a 15-11 lead in the third frame courtesy of a Lucille Almonte hit. Nxled was up, 18-15, when Creamline ignited a decisive 9-0 rally to reach match point, 24-18.
May Luna salvaged a point to end the Chameleon’s bleeding only for Carlos to smash the punctuation.
“I guess the Nxled really put effort (in the last two sets). I guess we also got a bit too relaxed,” Negrito said.
“But at this point of the tournament, you can’t afford to relax. I’m happy we’re able to recover and we got the sets and the win.”
The Chameleons absorbed their eighth loss in as many games.
Only five players scored for Nxled led by Jaycel Delos Reyes’ seven points. Lycha Ebon, Almonte and Luna got six each while Chiara Permentilla was limited to just three in two sets of action.