Michele Gumabao and Creamline during a victory over Choco Mucho in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Creamline kept its unbeaten streak intact in the PVL All-Filipino Conference after surviving a blockbuster clash against sister team Choco Mucho, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, Tuesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cool Smashers rose to a 3-0 record with a big help from the trio of Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao and Kyle Negrito, who were consistent throughout the two hours and 21 minutes battle.
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“’Yung Choco [Mucho] talaga di talaga magpapatalo talaga basta-basta. Alam namin babalik sila sa game so sabi ko lang naman sa mga players is mag-enjoy lang tayo, mag-perform nang maayos para makuha natin yung panalo,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, whose squad reasserted its mastery of Choco Mucho having won 16 of its last 17 head-to-head encounters.
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Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses and Kyle Negrito on beating Choco Mucho anew. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/2NYQeylmMt
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 3, 2024
“Wag tayo ma-pressure [and] nag-respond naman yung mga [players], kasi maraming [game] rallies so talagang hindi lang volleyball yung labanan, talaga endurance din eh. So, yun buti nakuha namin yung panalo,” Meneses added.
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With playmaker Negrito tossing in 21 excellent sets, Galanza punched in 24 points off 22 attacks, a block and an ace while Gumabao took the place of Tots Carlos, who was sidelined due to “load management,” very well with 22 points from 19 kills and three blocks.
Galanza’s defense was also on point with 17 excellent receptions.
“Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa sarili ko na kumapit yung sarili ko ngayong game. Sabi ko nga kanina, nagsi-simula pa lang yung season, so hindi pa ito yung time para ma-feel ko yung perfect yung game ko o flawless yung game ko. Marami pang mangyayari. For sure, mag-aadjust yung mga kalaban,” Galanza said.
“‘Yun nga una, siguro hindi rin namin na-enjoy ‘yung third set tsaka masaydo naming napalayo ‘yung lamang so sabi namin next set na huwag naming hayaang lumamang ng ganung kalaki tapos sa huli namin hahabulin. Kung kaya sa simula palang, pumuntos na nang pumuntos,” Negrito said after the defending champions was blindsided in the third frame.
READ: PVL: Tots Carlos staying patient in awaited Creamline return
Choco Mucho did not back down easily despite already being in a 0-2 deficit and jumped out to a 20-12 lead in the third set before Creamline responded thanks to Galanza’s five unanswered points to tie the frame at 23.
It was a back-and-forth action from there until the Flying Titans outlasted the Cool Smashers. In the fourth frame, it was the same nip-and-tuck affair but with Sisi Rondina having little help from her teammates, Creamline secured the victory.
Rondina matched Galanza’s output with 24 points from 22 attacks and two blocks as well as 11 excellent receptions with her Alas Pilipinas teammate Cherry Nunag being the next best scorer with 10 points.
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Mars Alba dished out 17 excellent sets, Thang Ponce caught 13 excellent digs while Kat Tolentino had 11 in the game, where Choco Mucho committed 34 errors and dropped a third match in five games.
Creamline guns for a fourth straight win against young ZUS Coffee while Choco Mucho seeks to bounce back against Farm Fresh on Dec. 12 at PhilSports Arena.
