By NIKOLE JAVIER
Michele Gumabao is not only beautiful – she’s also deadly.
Armed with brute strength – not to mention boasting of an angelic face – Gumabao willed heavy favorite Creamline to a pulsating 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25 win against Petro Gazz in Game Two of their best-of-three finals in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Finals before a raucous Tuesday crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Cool Smashers, who are seeking for their sixth All-Filipino title, bucked a first-set loss to drag the series to a sudden death.
Gumabao delivered the team-high performance for Creamline with 21 points, while Tots Carlos added 20.
Jema Galanza and Ced Domingo chipped in 17 and 14 markers, respectively, in an all-around team effort.
Creamline rushed into an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set after similarly dictating the pace in the previous two.
However, Petro Gazz would get back on its feet to bring the set into the first deadlock of 10-all.
Both teams encountered each other closely six more times in the same set before the Angels took the lead of 20-19 after a Galanza attack error.
Now up by one, Petro Gazz went on a 3-0 run to pull away from Creamline courtesy of Aiza Pontillas’ back-to-back hits.
Despite Creamline’s last-ditch efforts to close out the set, Petro Gazz will come away with the set win to even the match at 2-all.
The fifth and final set, however, turned out to be dominant once Creamline surged to a 10-2 advantage.
Ultimately, Domingo will take matters into her own hands after rattling off three straight points.
Rem Palma and Pontillas paced the Angels with 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
The reigning champion Creamline will take on Petro Gazz in a do-or-die on Thursday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the same venue.
