Defending champion Creamline collected its ninth straight victory at the expense of Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16, to remain unbeaten in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Birthday girl Jema Galanza gave the Cool Smashers faithful a treat with a superb all-around performance that powered Creamline to a 9-0 win-loss record while snapping the Crossovers' six-game win run in the battle of semifinals-bound heavyweights.
Galanza celebrated her 27th birthday stuffing the stats sheet with 16 points off 13 kills, two kill blocks and an ace while chipping in 18 digs and 10 excellent receptions on the defensive end for the Cool Smashers.
"I'm very happy we got the win on my birthday. But more importantly, the game showed us that we can't relax because (Chery Tiggo) proved that they could match up against us if we take our guards down," Galanza said.
Tots Carlos also finished with 16 points, Pangs Panaga hammered 10 markers including the game-clinching running attack while Michele Gumabao and Bernadeth Pons added nine each for the Cool Smashers, who outgunned the Crossovers, 66-44, in attacks. Kyle Negrito dished out 24 excellent sets for Creamline.
Creamline blasted a huge 6-1 barrage to turn a 9-11 deficit in the fourth set to tajk a 15-12 advantage. Chery Tiggo closed the gap, 15-14, but Pons ignited Pons a 10-2 closing run to seal the victory.
The Crossovers slid to third spot with an 8-2 mark.
Mylene Paat was the only Chery Tiggo player in double figures with 11 points while Eya Laure went cold with nine markers. Pauline Gaston and Cza Carandang got nine each.