By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Bernadeth Pons picked up from where she left off as the Creamline Cool Smashers scored a 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 sweep over the Petro Gazz Angels in PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Saturday night, November 16.
The Negros Occidental’s Talisay City native Pons finished with a triple-double of 10 points, 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions as the Cool Smashers opened their title-retention bid on a winning note.
Jessica Galanza spearheaded the offense with 13 points to go with nine excellent digs and three receptions, Bea de Leon added 10 points, while Alyssa Valdez made her return with four markers for Creamline.
During her Player of the Game interview, Galanza credited the Cool Smashers’ depth and adaptability, drawing key contributions from the bench to cover up for the absence of Diana Carlos due to an injury.
“We’ve grown through overseas training, which has helped us adjust to new systems and challenges,” Galanza said, referencing the team’s preseason training in Taiwan recently.
Brooke Van Sickle finished with 18 points to lead the Angels, but the rest of her teammates struggled, with Remy Palma and Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas having five points each, and Negrense Jonah Sabete struggled for four markers.
They dropped to 1-1.
Meanwhile, the Cignal HD Spikers leaned on Gel Cayuna’s efficient ball distribution to defeat the Farm Fresh Foxies in straight sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21, to start their campaign this conference.
The former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws playmaker finished with 16 excellent sets to go with five points to earn Player of the Game honors for the HD Spikers.
Cayuna’s ball distribution has led to balanced scoring from Frances Molina, Roselyn Doria, Marivic Meneses, Jovelyn Fernandez, and Vanessa Gandler in Cignal’s straight set win.
Molina led the way with 14 points, Fernandez stood out with 11 markers, Doria and Meneses matched seven-point outputs, and Gandler added five points for the HD Spikers./ASC, WDJ