CREAMLINE kept its cool under pressure to thwart Chery Tiggo EV, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
With captain Alyssa Valdez held to limited minutes, another ex-PVL MVP in Tots Carlos stepped up as a converted outside hitter to backstop American import Courtney Schwan who had her conference-best 29 points with nine receptions.
"We’re still working things out. We tried to do [different] lineups tonight so we’re working on some things. I think everybody made an impact when they came in, so that was huge for us," Schwan said.
"‘Yung pinaka-importante ay ‘yung maka-recover kami sa mga sitwasyon na medyo natatalo kami. Nu'ng naka-recover kami sa [sets] two, three, and four, napakalaking bagay," added Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Carlos took over in a decisive third canto to break a one-set deadlock by scoring three of Creamline’s last four points from 21-23 down.
Her first Creamline game as an opener ended with a huge 17-point, 20-reception double-doubee.
Extended game time from one of two Creamline draftees in Nica Celis, who pitched in five points, propelled the pink shirts to a game-high nine-point cushion at 23-14 in the fourth set to finish the match off in four.
Michele Gumabao also churned out six points and 14 digs as the lead opposite hitter.
It was an important win for the Cool Smashers coming off a shock four-set loss to ZUS Coffee that spared them from being paired with Pool A’s top three teams come the next group stage.
The defending champions end the first round within the top three at 3-2 (win-loss) ahead of Petro Gazz (3-2) by virtue of their superior match points, 10 against eight.
Brakes slammed
Cuban winger Yuni Batista's 22-point, 14-dig bomb wasn't enough to dislodge a steady Creamline side that had its second stringers on display for the most part.
Ces Robles' 11-piece and Mylene Paat's 10 off the bench backed Batista up as leading scorer Ara Galang was held to just five points.
Alina Bicar's 28 excellent sets and Jen Nierva's 28 digs also both went for naught.
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