By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Bernadeth Pons continued her fine play for the Creamline Cool Smashers as they swept the Nxled Chameleons, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20, in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, August 8.
The former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws star finished with a near triple-double of 13 points, 14 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions as the Cool Smashers closed the Pool A assignment with a 4-1 win-loss slate.
“We just followed coach Sherwin Meneses’ system and focused on executing what we practiced,” said the Negros Occidental’s Talisay City-native Pons, who was named Player of the Game for the third straight time.
Erika Staunton also ended with 13 markers for the Cool Smashers, Michele Gumabao contributed 12 points, while Kyle Negrito set the tone with 12 excellent sets and four points.
After handily winning the first two sets, the Cool Smashers encountered trouble in the third frame as they trailed 5-11 before relying on Pons, Gumabao and Lorie Lyn Bernardo to tie the score at 20-all.
The Cool Smashers surged ahead at 21-20 on a service error by Chameleons’ Jaila Atienza before they got three points from Gumabao and a crosscourt kill from Staunton to seal the win.
“Ang key naman diyan is mag-improve kami every game, every training, so ‘yung mga lapses namin nung Game 1 is talagang medyo kino-correct talaga namin. Hopefully, mag-improve pa kami hanggang dulo,” Creamline head coach Meneses said.
Jhoanna Maraguinot finished with nine points, while American import Meegan Hart chipped in seven markers as the Chameleons suffered their fourth straight defeat for a 1-4 mark.
Meanwhile, the PLDT High Speed Hitters recovered from their first defeat in the Reinforced Conference with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 win over the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Elena Samoilenko fired 22 points to go with nine excellent receptions for the High Speed Hitters, while Ilongga Fiola Ceballos supported her with 11 points and 10 excellent digs as the High Speed Hitters improved to a 4-1 win-loss slate./ASC, WDJ