By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bernadeth Pons continued her fine showing for the Creamline Cool Smashers as they made quick work of the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22, in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday, August 22.

The Negros Occidental’s Talisay City-native star tallied a double-double of 11 points and 12 excellent digs as the Cool Smashers will head to the quarterfinals as the no. 3 seed with their 6-2 win-loss slate.

Erica Staunton led the way with 17 points, Lorie Lyn Bernardo added eight points, while middle blocker Bea de Leon chipped in four points, including two crucial kill blocks for Creamline.

“Malaking bagay ito kasi matagal ko na ring hinihintay ‘yung opportunity to play longer minutes,” said Bernardo, a former middle blocker of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses said his team will be ready for the playoffs round even if both Alyssa Valdez and Diana Carlos are still unsure to suit up.

“We’re ready sa lahat ng challenges na mangyayari. Ang importante lang talaga is ‘yung determination namin na manalo, lalo na ang knockout game, trust lang namin sa isa’t isa,” Meneses said.

“Hopefully, makabalik sila [Valdez at Carlos], pero hindi ko kasi masagot kasi ‘yung medical team namin, wala pang advise,” he said.

“Pero ready naman kami kung hindi sila makabalik, especially ‘yung mga bench players nagko-contribute naman talaga nang husto,” he added.

Asaka Tamaru led the Thunderbelles with 16 points, while Michelle Gamit, Ypril Tapia, Gayle Pascual, Cloanne Mondonedo, Dolly Verzosa, and Sharya Ancheta combined for 17 markers.

They ended the conference with a 0-8 record./ASC, WDJ