By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Creamline Cool Smashers played catch up almost the entire game before pulling off a 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 win over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 1 of the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, May 9.
Jessica Galanza tallied 20 points, built on 18 attacks and two blocks, to be named Player of the Game as the Cool Smashers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three title series.
“Ayaw ko lang na matapos itong game na hindi kami ang panalo. Nakikita ko ‘yung mga teammates ko na lumalaban, then ‘yung [mga nasa bench] chini-cheer kami, so hindi kami sumuko,” Galanza said.
“Talagang inilaban namin itong game na ito, at sobrang sarap lang at nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” she said.
“Pero hindi pa rin kami pwede mag-relax. Mas paghahandaan namin ‘yung next game,” she added.
Diana Carlos contributed 17 markers, Isabel Beatriz de Leon came off-the-bench to tally 11 markers for the Cool Smashers, which can clinch their eighth PVL crown in Game 2 on Sunday, May 12.
After failing to protect their lead in the opening set, the Cool Smashers played catch up in the second frame as they turned a 3-8 deficit into a 19-13 spread. Choco Mucho rallied to within 20-23 before Creamline finished off the set with back-to-back hits.
The Cool Smashers fell behind anew early in the third set as the Flying Titans surged to a 13-7 start.
Creamline clawed their way back to a 22-21 lead before Galanza ended the set with three straight points.
Just like in the previous sets, the Flying Titans gained an early 9-5 advantage in the fourth set, but the Cool Smashers bounced back to take a 13-11 edge and never looked back.
The Petro Gazz Angels inched closer to a bronze medal finish after a 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 15-12 beating of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Game 1 of their own best-of-three series.
Brooke Van Sickle spearheaded the attack with 36 points, including 31 attacks, four blocks and a service ace, while Jonah Sabete and MarJana Phillips contributed 21 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Angels./ASC, WDJ