February 28 ------ CREAMLINE was spared from an upset bid as it took care of business against Nxled in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round at the Philsports Arena. Middle blocker Bea de Leon emerged as the leading scorer, and the only one in double figures, for Creamline with 12 points topped by five blocks behind Kyle Negrito's 15 excellent sets.
Two days since her first wedding ceremony with longtime partner Aldo Panlilio, Michele Gumabao fired seven attack points off the bat and didn't seem to break a sweat after a hectic couple of months for the veteran winger. "'Di naman din nila ako sobrang pine-pressure. Alam naman din nila for the past few days during the wedding na medyo hectic 'yung schedule and naiintindihan naman ng buong team 'yun dahil nga one family kami so thankful ako sa kanila," said Gumabao. "Every time naman na nasa court ako binibigay ko yung best ko para sa team. 'Pag nasa labas, binibigay ko rin 'yung best ko kapag nasa labas so kung nasaan lang talaga ako at the moment, binibigay ko lang din talaga 'yung best ko and 'yung team naka-support sila talaga."
The top-seeded Cool Smashers began the next phase of their five-peat bid on a high and will wait for roughly two more weeks before finding out who their quarterfinals opponents will be. The pool winner with the inferior ranking by the end of the play-in will secure the 8-seed in the playoffs and take on Creamline in the best-of-three quarters. "Masaya po kasi nga lahat gustong sumali sa team, sa game. Sobrang hindi na nila pinapahirapan buhay ko or baka pinapahirapan din nila ako gusto nila lahat pumalo. So masaya po, masaya po bilang setter na makita mo mga teammates mo na laban na laban," said Negrito.
Nxled now joins Cignal as the first two play-in entrants, albeit in different pools. The Chameleons enter Pool B where they will take on the losers in the Choco Mucho-Chery Tiggo and PLDT-ZUS Coffee qualifying round pairings. Pacing Nxled's defeat was leading scorer Chiara Permentilla who had a double-double of 14 points and 18 receptions with six digs.
Source: spin.ph
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