By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Creamline Cool Smashers showed no mercy for sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-15 sweep in the PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference single-round robin semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, April 3.

Negrense Bernadeth Pons top-scored for the Cool Smashers with 14 points.

Diana Carlos added 13 markers, while Alyssa Valdez and Jeanette Panaga contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Kyle Negrito finished with 17 excellent sets to go with three points to be named Player of the Game as the Cool Smashers clinched their seventh consecutive PVL finals appearance.

“Siguro ‘yung mindset namin na, since do-or-die na kami, do lang talaga ‘yung option namin,” Negrito said in a post-game interview.

“Bawat point may strategy at may game plan,” she said.

“I am happy naman na nakuha namin ‘yung panalo, kasi sa hinaba-haba ng conference na ito, ‘yung mga huling laro talaga ‘yung naging mahalaga,” the former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws playmaker added.

The defending champion Cool Smashers dominated the Flying Titans in each of the three sets to set up a best-of-three title series showdown with the Petro Gazz Angels beginning next week.

Maria Lina Molde finished with nine points to lead the Flying Titans, while Cherry Rondina and Honey Royce Tubino were held to seven points apiece.

Meanwhile, the Angels clinched their place in the championship round following a 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 sweep of the Akari Power Chargers.

Myla Pablo led the way with 16 points off 11 attacks, four blocks and an ace, earning Player of the Game honors as the Angels capped the semifinals with a perfect 3-0 record.

Brooke Van Sickle contributed 15 points, including 14 attacks, along with nine excellent digs, helping the Angels return to the All-Filipino Conference finals after a two-year absence./ASC, WDJ