By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Creamline Cool Smashers relied on another clutch performance by Alyssa Valdez to defeat Cignal HD Spikers, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 24-26, 15-10 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday night, July 22.
The national women’s volleyball team skipper scattered a conference-best 22 points, on 18 attacks, two blocks and two service aces, as the Cool Smashers moved closer to a return trip to the finals.
After failing to close out the match in the fourth set and being pushed to the limit by the HD Spikers midway in the fifth set, the Cool Smashers got connections from Diana Carlos and Jessica Galanza to turn a slim 9-8 lead to a 12-8 spread.
Frances Molina stopped the bleeding for the HD Spikers with an offspeed attack before Valdez and Guimarasnon Jovelyn Gonzaga exchanged hits which put the Cool Smashers ahead by three, 13-10, once again.
Carlos then sent the defending champions Cool Smashers to match point at 14-10 with a booming connection before Valdez closed out the tightly-contested match with an attack point.
Carlos fired a team-high 27 points built on 25 attacks to lead the Cool Smashers, Galanza finished with 21 points, 17 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions, while Julia Morado-De Guzman finished with 33 excellent sets.
Molina ended with 28 points to lead the HD Spikers (2-1), Rachel Anne Daquis contributed 14 points while Marivic Meneses and Gonzaga chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the loss.
Meanwhile, PLDT High Speed Hitters kept its PVL finals hopes alive with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 win over F2 Logistics Cargo Movers. Both teams now have a 1-2 slate in the single-round robin semis.
Honey Royce Tubino tallied 20 points on 18 attacks, one block, and a service ace. Ilongga Fiola Ceballos added nine points for, while Aklanon Dell Palomata contributed eight markers for the High Speed Hitters.
Myla Pablo ended with 10 markers to lead the Cargo Movers, which played minus star hitter Kim Kianna Dy due to a right knee injury she suffered in the last game./ASC, WDJ