DEFENDING champion Creamline pounced on struggling BanKo, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16, to earn its fifth straight victory and secure at least a playoff spot in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League on Saturday at University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.
The Cool Smashers continued to wax hot as they inched a win shy of clinching a semis berth with their fifth win in six matches, while sending the Perlas Spikers to their third straight defeat.
The defending champions also gave the idle and unbeaten leader PetroGazz (6-0) the first Final Four ticket on the eve of its battle against BaliPure (0-5) on Sunday at Imus Sports Complex.
It was a lopsided affair in Ilo-ilo as Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin and Alyssa Valdez led the collective effort of Creamline to finally break their out-of-town curse against BanKo, which swept the reigning titlist in Tuguegarao last year’s Reinforced and in Cagayan De Oro in the Open Conference.
The Perlas Spikers fielded a new Thai import Sutadta Chuewulim to replace American Kia Bright, who sparingly played in their last game due to coach’s decision.
But even with Chuewulim on board, BanKo still absorbed the same result for the third straight game dropping at No.5 with a 2-5 record.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph