Creamline showcased its championship experience and firepower, dominating Galeries Tower with a 25-15, 26-24, 25-19 victory on Thursday to secure 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.
Meanwhile, the Highrisers fell to a 1-10 standing, sharing the bottom of the rankings with Capital1.
Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos spearheaded Creamline’s offense, particularly during the pivotal second set.
Trailing 15-22, Valdez sparked a comeback with two consecutive kills, followed by four straight attacks from Carlos to cut the deficit to one, 21-22.
Valdez then tied the set at 22-all with a smart drop shot before Carlos fired a powerful hit to bring the Cool Smashers to 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 tallied 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 expressed satisfaction with his team’s top-seed finish but stressed the importance of maintaining focus.
“Of course, I’m really happy because we ranked first. I think we had a bit of an advantage since we faced a lower-ranked opponent, but 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 tough, we’re able to carry that intensity into our games.”
With the preliminary rounds nearing completion, Creamline now shifts its focus to the high-stakes quarterfinals, aiming to extend its dominance in the league.
As the battle heats up, every point, set, and match will be crucial in the knockout stage.