The Creamline Cool Smashers tasted a stunning defeat at the hands of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in straight sets, 25-18, 26-24, 25-23, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, March 16, at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
This marked the Cool Smashers’ first loss since the invitational finals against the Kurashiki Ablaze on July 30, 2023, and the team’s first straight sets downfall since May 26, 2019, against the Petro Gazz Angels in the reinforced conference.
Eya Laure paced the Crossovers with 14 points on 12 attacks and two aces, while Jen Nierva showed her defensive prowess with 20 excellent digs.
Alina Bicar pulled the strings with 12 excellent sets to complete the all-around gameplay of the rebounding Chery Tiggo squad.
“Syempre, kasi Creamline, sila ‘yung nasa taas. Kami nasa baba ngayon. Sabi nga ng mga coaches, mas hungry dapat kami na abutin ‘yung taas kasi sila ‘yung champion eh, defending champion. Andun pa rin ‘yung respect na makikita mo sa training,” Laure said during a post-game interview.
It was a bounce-back victory for the Crossovers after failing their assignments against Farm Fresh and Choco Mucho.
“Siguro mas hungry. ‘Yun ‘yung term talaga na laging pinapaalala sa amin ni Tyang Aby [Marano] na maging hungry kami sa mga game, kasi wake-up call ‘yung nangyari sa amin sa Farm Fresh. ‘Yun talaga, ramdam na ramdam namin ‘yung gising,” the younger Laure added.
The Cool Smashers put up a gallant stand in Set 2, overcoming a 21-15 deficit and even taking the set point at 24-22.
However, a Kyle Negrito service error was the start of their demise as their coaching staff called for a challenge, but the team no longer had one available. That gave an automatic point to the Crossovers, and Tots Carlos’ attack touched the antenna, which gave their rivals the match point.
Ara Galang then finished the second canto with a hit off the blockers.
The Crossovers later on reached match point in Set 3, courtesy of Mylene Paat’s off-the-block attack at 24-22.
However, the Cool Smashers were not ready to give up, meeting the ball at the net multiple times, before Jema Galanza scored one to keep her team alive, 24-23.
Laure lived up to her billing as last conference’s first best outside spiker, unleashing the killing blow which delivered the ballgame to the Crossovers.
Galanza and Carlos paced Creamline with 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
“Pero one step at a time. Ito sanang panalo namin, masabi rin sana namin na kaya naming lumaban as a team. Teamwork lang,” Laure, also a former University of Santo Tomas standout, said.
The defending champions dropped to a 4-1 slate, while the Crossovers regained their winning ways at 3-2. (ABS-CBN News)