By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Elena Samoilenko returned to the Premier Volleyball League by storm with a 34-point explosion as PLDT outhustled a resilient Creamline crew, 16-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12, in the Reinforced Conference late Tuesday, July 16, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The hard-hitting Russian import torched the net by firing 32 kills and two aces to fuel the High Speed Hitters to a rousing start against their fancied multi-titled rival.
Samoilenko orchestrated PLDT’s 6-2 run at the start of the fifth set before Creamline retaliated and kept the game close behind Bernadeth Pons, Michelle Gumabao and Erica Staunton.
But the Cool Smashers failed to grab the upper hand from the High Speed Hitters with Fiola Ceballos sealed the match with an off-the-block spike.
Ceballos unloaded all her 11 points on attacks while Majoy Baron also contributed with 11 points.
Creamline, who was playing without star player Jema Galanza due to national team dues, attempted to lean on Pons and Gumabao, who posted 18 and 16 points, but it was still not enough to douse the fire of Samoilenko and PLDT.
Staunton topscored for the Cool Smashers with 20 points in a losing effort.
