MANILA, August 5 ------ It took them a while, but Creamline still survived the brave stand of Galeries, 27-25, 26-28, 29-27, 25-19, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The duo of American wing spiker Erica Staunton and rising star Bernadeth Pons did the heavy lifting to help All-Filipino champions clinch their third win in the import-laden tilt. Staunton led all scorers with 29 points built on 25 attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while Pons, who has been performing well in the tourney, delivered 26 points on 21 attacks, three swats, and two aces.
After Galeries put forth a challenge in the two-hour, 32-minute affair, coach Sherwin Meneses tipped his hat to their gutsy Saturday rivals while claiming that his team "kinda got lucky." "'Yung Galeries nakita ko talaga 'yung sistema as a team — 'yun 'yung pinakamahirap talunin talaga. Once nakakasunod ka sa system na pinapagawa sa'yo, napakadaling maglaro," Meneses said during the postgame press conference. Meneses added that they had lapses in their system today. "So kami medyo may mga lapses sa system namin [and] 'di biro 'yung Galeries talaga. Napakaganda nung sistema nila sa block, sistema sa defense, talagang medyo binuwenas lang din kami."
The Lerma Giron-coached squad snatched one in Set 2 to the dismay of Creamline fans. From a 26-all count, Staunton tried to smash one but was met by the Galeries net defense. She tried once more; this time a cross-court attempt, but her attack went wide to give the opponents set point. And then opposite hitter Ysabel Jamie Jimenez managed to spike one through to tie the match at 1-1.
Creamline installed a 23-18 lead in the third canto, only to squander it to the rallying Highrisers which tied the frame off a Grace Bombita kill, 23-all. The eight-time PVL champions would reach set point later on at 27-26, but Sutadta Chuewulim would extend it further after hitting one through the hands of Michele Gumabao. Meneses' wards showed poise and turned to their local standout Pons for a sharp, down-the-line hit to claim set point once more, and setter Kyle Negrito finally ended the 38-minute frame with a service ace. A 6-1 run from the 19-18 mark concluded by an anti-climactic unsuccessful challenge from the Galeries coaching staff — ended Set 4 to finally close the curtains. Despite the tough challenge, the Creamline maestro was happy to get away with the win. "Siyempre, number one, masaya kami. Happy kami na nakuha namin kahit na 'di ganun kadali," Meneses said.
The Cool Smashers will finish their Pool A task against Nxled, while Galeries could regain its winning ways against Chery Tiggo on Thursday, August 8, at the same Metro Manila venue.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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