CREAMLINE cruised to a quick 25-10, 25-21, 25-10 win over Capital1 in its 2025 PVL on Tour opener on Sunday at the Chavit Coliseum in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
The champions-turned-challengers briefly dealt with a slow start and even trailed by one, 5-6, in the opening set.
READ: Cignal strikes first in PVL on Tour with emphatic sweep of Akari
What followed was a relentless 20-4 run led by Creamline’s ever-reliable MVP trio in Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao.
They produced 32 points as a trio, with Galanza and Gumabao hitting double figures with 12 and 11 markers, respectively, in the straight-sets contest.
Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses also had the luxury of fielding his second unit which includes their two most recent draft picks in middle blockers Sheena Toring (five points) and Nica Celis who were drafted 12th and 23rd, respectively.
"Super blessed ako. Malaking pasasalamat ko kay Lord talaga kasi first pro team, sa Creamline agad ako. Malaki yung expectations so kailangan lang talagang iimprove yung game ko every day," Toring said.
Meneses added: "Happy ako kasi yung continuation ng career niya, napunta sa’min. Hopefully, ma-develop pa namin yung mga ibang bagay na dapat pa naming gawin sa NU, yung sistema namin sa Creamline."
Creamline veterans Pau Soriano and Rose Vargas also saw action in a rotational mix-and-match by Meneses in light of the injury-related absences of Tots Carlos and Bea de Leon.
In the end, three straight hits from second-stringer blocker Lorie Bernardo put Capital1 away in another 15-point beating.
The Cool Smashers also gained the upper hand both in blocking (eight to one) and serving (seven to three) over the Solar Spikers to cap a commanding display on offense.
Sun yet to rise up north
Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito made his PVL coaching comeback with Capital1 two years since his last rodeo with Akari.
It was one that ended in a tough defeat as the Solar Spikers usher in their post-Roger Gorayeb era, backed by new additions like Jerrili Malabanan and Rachel Austero.
Holdover winger Rovie Instrella was a revelation for Capital1 with seven points and four digs to lead all scorers in a difficult night altogether for the year-old team.
At least for now, the waiting game continues for the sought-after debut of this year’s top overall pick in Bella Belen as she fulfills her national team duties.
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