By NIKOLE JAVIER
As everyone expected, Creamline kicked off its 2023 season in style – even without star player Alyssa Valdez.
Cheered on lustily by their loyal fans – Valdez included – the Cool Smashers went on to score a straight-set victory over reigning Reinforced Conference champion Petro Gazz, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Valdez – still the undisputed queen of volleyball – came in civvy as she is yet to fully recover from injury she sustained last year.
Valdez’s mere presence though was enough to inspire her teammates – especially when she screamed in delight each time they scored.
The Cool Smashers had to survive the spirited challenge from the Angels who managed to lead early and tie the score eight times before finally scoring two decisive points to start their season on the right footing.
Choco Mucho likewise used balanced scoring to overpower Akari, 25-15, 25-20, 25-20, in the first game.
The triple-tower combo of Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag produced 11 points each while Isa Molde fired away 10 hits for the Flying Titans, who responded quite well to new coach Dante Alinsunurin’s system. But it was Madayag who took the player of the game honors in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Ced Domingo and Michele Gumabao both had 13 points to bring Creamline to its first win of the season after failing to complete its Grand Slam bid last year.
Tots Carlos and Jeannette Panaga had 11 and 10 that underscored Creamline’s well-balanced attack.
Down by four in the final set, the Cool Smashers managed to inch closer and tie the game at 11-all but couldn’t completely keep the Angels out of sight.
The Cool Smashers shattered a 22-all count and finally took the fight out of the Angels when Domingo and Gumabao connived to block Nicole Tiamzon’s spike.
Gumabao then would put the Cool Smashers on top with an ace followed by Domingo’s drop.
However, Petro Gazz would shoot itself in the foot with a costly attack error that ultimately ended the game in Creamline’s favor.
“Syempre happy ‘yong team kasi first game nakuha namin panalo. Alam naman natin tong Petro Gazz galing din sa championship at talagang binigay din ‘yong best nila. Naging maganda lang ‘yong service-receive sa crucial part. Lagi kami naghahabol sa second and third set eh,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas paced the Angels with 10 points.
