Creamline gains PVL Finals slot; PLDT bucks slow start, evens series

Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL All-Filipino Cup semifinals. –UAAP PHOTO

Creamline wasted no time—or set—to get to the championship.

“We missed the finals in the last conference but everybody was ready to step up this time,” said Jia de Guzman, the astute setter who pulled the strings of a 25-22, 25-23, 25-16 victory over F2 Logistics on Tuesday that pushed the Cool Smashers into the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals.

“We’re so overwhelmed and really grateful for this win,” she added after Creamline swept the best-of-three semifinal series.

Meanwhile, the other half of the Final Four bracket nearly ended in another sweep, after PLDT started its do-or-die fight like internet on a dial-up connection.

“We gave up the first set like we were still warming up. It was really a slow start, we weren’t focused and we lacked the intensity,” said coach Rald Ricafort.

Veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan felt the same way.

“Actually, at first, we had doubts that we could win the game,” she said.

It wasn’t until after a tense second set that the team finally lived up to its High Speed Hitters moniker.

“[C]oach told us that the warmup period was over so we should start moving well and play our usual game,” Dimaculangan said. The result was a 14-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-15 victory over Petro Gazz that forced a rubber match for the other Finals berth.

Points, playmaking and spectacular defense. Jovy Prado, Rhea Dimaculangan and Kath Arado provided plenty of those for PLDT in Game 2. —PVL PHOTO

PLDT’s victory freed up time for Creamline to get ready for the title clash. The High Speed Hitters and the Angels mix it up in a no-tomorrow duel on Thursday. The Cool Smashers took the opening set of Game 2 at Mall of Asia Arena before engaging the Cargo Movers in a tight second set where the lead changed hands several times.

All signs posted to a marathon match until a deadlock at 22, when Jema Galanza dragged Creamline to a 2-0 set lead by manufacturing three straight points.

With a vise grip on the match, the Cool Smashers went for the kill in the third.

“We’re happy that we avoided a fourth or fifth set because they (F2) are tough opponents to deal with.,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.  It seemed like the first game was headed for a cruise for Petro Gazz as PLDT fell into an 8-22 hole.

“But instead of fighting over it,” Ricafort said, “I just told them to forget the first set [and] get our acts together in the second set onwards.”

PLDT dominated the last two sets, taking a 20-10 lead in the fourth off Kath Arado’s lucky dig that resulted in a point.

Dimaculangan seamlessly orchestrated the PLDT offense and lobbed 25 excellent sets that helped four of her teammates get to double figures.

Mich Morente led that parade with 16 points.

Arado sheltered PLDT’s floor with her defensive acumen, scooping out 26 digs and 12 excellent receptions. Jovy Prado was also instrumental with 15 points, 11 digs and 10 receptions.

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