By NIKOLE JAVIER
Creamline needed four frames to beat the gritty United Auctioneers-Army, 25-12, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, while Petro Gazz stunned Chery Tiggo in five thrilling sets in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cool Smashers dictated the first two sets but encountered rough sailing in the next two frames before rediscovering their offensive rhythm in the crunch to pull off the win before another huge and happy crowd.
Turkish import Yeliz Basa led the way for Creamline with 18 points built on 16 attacks and two blocks while Ced Domingo and Jema Galanza contributed 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the Cool Smashers notched their 6th win in seven starts.
They close out their elimination round campaign against Choco Mucho on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena determined to keep their No, 1 status going into the semis round.
After losing the third set, the Cool Smashers continued to struggle, falling behind 9-2 in the fourth.
Good thing, they found their second wind and through the brilliant plays of setter Jia de Guzman, they rallied mightily and tied the count at 22-all on Tots Carlos booming spike.
The Troopers still managed to regain the lead in the next play before Creamline won the next three possessions with Galanza finishing the match off a chance ball that kept Army winless in seven outings.
Lindsey Vander Weide erupted for 29 points as Petro Gazz kept its semis bid afloat with a 4-2 card.
The Crossover slipped to 5-2.
