by KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Saturday (The Arena, San Juan City)
2 p.m. – BanKo Perlas vs Pacifictown Army
Presentation of Individual Awards
4 p.m. – PetroGazz vs Creamline
Creamline moved a win away from defending its Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown on Wednesday night after outplaying PetroGazz, 24-26, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22, at The Arena in San Juan City.
Venezuelan reinforcement Ale Blanco fired an off-the-block spike before an overreaching violation was called on PetroGazz’s Cherry Nunag to give the Cool Smashers the crucial point to win the opener of their best-of-three championship series.
“It was breaks of the game,” said Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez, who tallied 16 points.
“But knowing PetroGazz, they will definitely bounce back and we have to be ready,” she added.
Game 2 is on Saturday at the same venue.
Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin led the Cool Smashers with 21 points built on 18 kills and three aces while Blanco finished with 15 spikes and three aces for 18 points.
Jia Morado also starred for Creamline with 21 excellent sets apart from three points.
PetroGazz’s erratic plays, which translated to 31 points for Creamline, led to its downfall despite the efforts of Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson, who tallied 20 and 18 points.
Jeanette Panaga also scored 10 points in a futile attempt for the Angels, who now lost twice to the Cool Smashers in their three meetings.
