MANILA, December 11 ------ The Creamline Cool Smashers are headed to the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals once again. This, as the Sherwin Meneses-led squad took care of business against Chery Tiggo in straight sets, 26-24, 25-21, 25-21, in the semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Kyle Negrito pulled the strings for Creamline with 18 excellent sets, while the pink jerseys had a balanced scoring from PVL MVPs Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez who were all in double-digit territory. "Masaya naman kasi pasok na kami sa finals, siyempre 'di doon nagtatapos, one point at a time. Balik muna kami sa training. Galing 'to eh," Carlos said in the postgame interview, pointing to coach Sherwin Meneses.
Not a single team has defeated Creamline this tournament in their 13-game run since the elimination round, but they still are not satisfied, at least according to Meneses. "Siyempre masaya kami, nakabalik kami sa finals. Pero siguro mas tataasan pa namin 'yung gusto naming makuha, 'yung manalo sa finals. Prepare muna ulit kami sa kung sino sa dalawa 'yung makakalaban," the Creamline maestro said.
EJ Laure held the fort for her not-feeling-well sister Eya and the rest of Chery Tiggo with 14 points, while former MVP Mylene Paat had an unusual blank output in the game. Coach Kungfu Reyes later admitted in the postgame interview that the younger Laure was "under the weather," but took medications to still play in Game 2. Galanza was the hero of Set 2, who had a personal 3-point run late in the frame, capped by a block on scoreless Paat.
Carlos created a 23-20 separation late in the third chapter after unleashing a sharp hit in the middle, while Shaya Adorador was met at the net which to give Creamline match point, 24-20. EJ scored off-the-block, but Michele Gumabao found the edge of the opposing court to clinch the Finals seat. "Maglalaro pa sila sa Tuesday, saka pa lang kami makakapag-scout kung sino 'yung makakalaban namin. Sa next training namin, focus muna kami sa sistema namin, kasi 'di natin alam kung sino ang maglalaro talaga," Meneses said to reporters as they wait for the winner of the Choco Mucho-Cignal semis bout.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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