Creamline nears PVL crown

Gretchel Soltones of PayMaya attacks the defense of Risa Sato of Creamline during Game 1 of their Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Reinforced Conference best-of-three title series yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Creamline regained control in the third set then took advantage of PayMaya’s erratic plays in the fourth to complete a 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory and edge closer to a dream Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Reinforced Conference crown yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Alyssa Valdez anchored Creamline’s big windup, delivering three of her team’s last four points as the top seeded Cool Smashers closed in on the coveted title after two third place finishes in the league’s inaugural staging last year.

They go for the clincher in Game 2 of their best-of-three title series on Wednesday also at the same venue.

The Cool Smashers, who cashed in on Myla Pablo’s absence due to injury in their sudden-death semifinal duel last Friday to advance to the title playoff, banked on their superb net defense in the openings, coming through with seven blocks, but yielded the next in the face of the High Flyers’ big bounce back.

Creamline regrouped and wrested control in the third then pounced on a series of PayMaya miscues in the fourth, including attack errors, net violations and four touches, to fashion out the four-set romp.

Valdez finished with 18 hits while Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin topscored with 19 points and Michelle Gumabao backed them up with eight markers.

Earlier, Pocari-Air Force bucked the absence of local ace Myla Pablo and turned back BanKo-Perlas, 25-22, 17-25, 16-25, 26-24, 15-11, to zero in on third place honors.