NUMBER ONE: Creamline demolishes Galeries Tower, claims top spot

Creamline flexed its vast championship experience and immense firepower after smashing Galeries Tower, 25-15, 26-24, 25-19 on Thursday to take the No. 1 seed after the elimination round of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Bouncing back from a tough loss to PLDT over the weekend, the Cool Smashers regained their form, finishing with a 10-1 record as they head into the knockout stages.

The Highrisers, meanwhile, dropped to a 1-10 standing, sharing the bottom of the rankings with Capital1.

Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos powered Creamline’s offense, especially during the pivotal second set.

Down 15-22, Valdez ignited a comeback with two consecutive kills, followed by Carlos’ four straight attacks to bring the Cool Smashers within one, 21-22.

Valdez then tied the set at 22-all with a smart drop shot before Carlos delivered a powerful hit to reach set point, 25-24. Valdez sealed the set with a decisive kill, 26-24, crushing Galeries Tower’s hopes of forcing a tighter contest.

Carlos led all scorers with 18 points, built on 16 attacks, one block, and one ace, while Valdez finished with 16 points from 15 attacks and a block, earning Player of the Game honors.

The Highrisers struggled to keep pace with Creamline’s dynamic offense.

Roselle Baliton was a bright spot for Galeries Tower, leading her team with 10 points, including five blocks, four attacks, and a service ace.

Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses was obviously pleased with his squad’s top-seed finish but emphasized the importance of maintaining focus.

“Of course, I’m really happy again because we ranked 1st. I think we had a bit of an advantage since we faced a lower-ranked opponent, but I believe this is the time when we can’t afford to relax anymore because a knockout game is coming up,” Meneses said.

“This is the part where we need to give 101 percent since the eliminations are over, and we’re now preparing for the quarterfinals.”

Valdez, the game’s top performer, credited the team’s intense training sessions for their resilience on the court.

“My motivation comes from our practices. During training, our counterattacks go head-to-head. I think we were able to apply what we do in practice,” Valdez said.

“Since practice is so tough, we’re able to carry that intensity into our games.”

With the preliminary rounds almost done, Creamline shifts its focus to the high-stakes quarterfinals, aiming to extend its dominance in the league.

The battle heats up as teams gear up for the knockout stage where every point, set, and match counts.