By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Creamline Cool Smashers showed poise in the fifth set to score a 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9 victory over the Petro Gazz Angels in Game 2 of the PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, April 10.
Negrense Bernadeth Pons finished with 22 points, on 19 attacks, two blocks and a service ace, to go with 12 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs as the Cool Smashers tied the best-of-three series at 1-1.
“Unang-una sobrang saya lang kasi nakuha namin ‘yung Game 2,” Pons said during her Player of the Game interview.
“Sobrang ganda lang kasi nung reminder sa amin na huwag kaming titigil hangga’t hindi natatapos ‘yung laro,” she said.
“Kahit na nakuhanan nila kami ng sets or nalamangan kami, nandun pa din kami, laban lang kami. Ngayong tabla na ‘yung series, lalaban lang kami hanggang sa ma-defend namin ‘yung crown,” she added.
Jessica Galanza added 13 markers, while Michele Gumabao and Jeanette Panaga contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Cool Smashers, which will vie for their 11th title in Game 3 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday night, April 12.
From a tightly-contested start in the fifth set, the Cool Smashers created separation from the Angels, courtesy of attacks from Pons, Panaga and Galanza for a 12-8 advantage.
The Angels still tried to trim the deficit after a conversion from MarJana Phillips.
The Cool Smashers went on a finishing run behind Pons and Galanza to force a deciding game.
Brooke Van Sickle finished with 18 points, while Phillips added 15 markers.
Negrense Jonah Sabete and Myla Pablo contributed 14 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Angels.
Meanwhile, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans also kept their bronze medal hopes alive with a 25-18, 25-22, 27-29, 25-19 victory over the Akari Power Chargers in Game 2 of the battle-for-third place series.
Cherry Ann Rondina finished with 26 points, built on 25 attacks and one block.
Honey Royce Tubino added 17 markers, while Maria Lina Molde and Cherry Nunag had 12 and 11 points, respectively./ASC, WDJ