CREAMLINE willed its way back from a set down to dispatch F2 Logistics, 12-25, 25-15, 23-25, 30-28, 15-7, at the start of the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference semifinals on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.
Alyssa Valdez put together her best game since coming back from a long injury layoff, posting 17 points on 16 attacks and one block as Creamline survived its first five-setter this conference to assert its mastery of F2 Logistics.
READ: In-form Cignal rolls past PLDT in semis opener
Creamline improved to 2-0 on coach Sherwin Meneses' 41st birthday. It has now won its last three matches against F2, including a two-game semis sweep in the All-Filipino Conference back in March en route to its sixth PVL title.
Factoring their prelims win over fellow Pool A semifinalist Cignal, the Cargo Movers slipped to a 1-1 (win-loss) card.
"I think every win in the semifinals is important to reach our goal. But after today, we have to set our minds pa rin sa mga next few games pa," Valdez said.
"We're just very, very happy [for this win]. This is our first five-setter this conference and we hope na marami kaming key learnings at mga naiuwing kailangan pa [ayusin this semis]," she added.
In front of nearly 7,000 fans in attendance, F2 Logistics came out swinging with a 13-point triumph in Set 1 before Creamline bounced back to draw level.
As Myla Pablo & Co. escaped a nail-biting third frame to lead two sets to one, Valdez willed the Cool Smashers back in an extended fourth frame by fighting off a couple of match points late in the set.
A fifth set meltdown by the Cargo Movers enabled the Cool Smashers to stay unbeaten ahead of a match against Cignal on Saturday.
Jema Galanza tallied 20 big points, Tots Carlos added 19 and Celine Domingo 16 markers in the epic fightback.
Pablo led the way with a game-high 27-point output ahead of F2 Logistics' next semis matchup with PLDT in two days' time.
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