By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Creamline Cool Smashers gained an early lead in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference finals with a 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22 Game 1 victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday night, December 14.
Diana Carlos tallied 16 markers, all coming from attacks, to be named Player of the Game for the Cool Smashers, which took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
Jessica Galanza also ended with 16 markers. Jeanette Panaga came up with 13 points, and Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao contributed 11 points each for the defending champion.
“‘Yung Choco Mucho hindi rin talaga magpapatalo ‘yan kasi kita niyo naman, sa haba ng conference, sila ‘yung nakapasok. Mainit talaga sila ngayong conference,” Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Team effort talaga, so happy ako kasi lahat ng situation na nangyari sa Game 1, nagawan namin ng paraan, pero hindi talaga kami [dapat] magpabaya kasi hindi pa tapos,” he added.
Carlos, a former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons standout, emphasized that their trust in each other and following the system of Meneses are the keys to their winning run.
“Since Day 1, ‘yun naman ang sinasabi namin na tiwala lang sa isa’t isa. Lagi rin naming sinasabi na umiikot lang kami sa isang sistema, and we are happy na nagagawa namin ‘yung system na ‘yun inside the court,” Carlos said.
Carlos admitted that there are some portions of Game 1 where the Cool Smashers’ energy was very low, but they managed to conduct some adjustments to maintain their unbeaten record in the season-ending conference.
“We are grateful na nakabawi kami dun sa sets na medyo low kami. From the outside, makikita mo na mababa ang energy namin. ‘Yun ang hinahanap ni coach, na mabago ‘yung ikot ng team,” Carlos said.
Madeleine Madayag finished with 18 points. Cherry Ann Rondina had 17 points and Kat Tolentino finished with 16 points for the Flying Titans, which are hoping to bounce back in Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday night, December 16./ASC, WDJ