MANILA, Philippines – The Creamline Cool Smashers remained the gold standard in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference after taking down sibling rival Choco Mucho Flying Titans in a four-set thriller, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, at the Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, December 3.
Former MVPs Jema Galanza and Sisi Rondina went blow-for-blow in a battle of Alas Pilipinas star spikers, tying with game-high 24-point eruptions that featured a gripping Galanza-led, third-set Creamline comeback from 8 points down, 21-13, only for Rondina to the finish the frame and survive.
Reigning Invitational Conference MVP Michele Gumabao stepped up big time for the recovering Tots Carlos and backstopped Galanza with 22 points on 19 attacks and 3 blocks, Bea de Leon scored 10, and Kyle Negrito tossed 21 excellent sets.
With Choco Mucho surviving the third set, Creamline cleared the drawing board and both sides went back-and-forth in the fourth — the Cool Smashers only leading by one against the Flying Titans late in the period, 18-17.
Creamline’s championship poise, however, ruled in the clutch, as Galanza and Gumabao led a Choco Mucho error-laced 7-3 finisher, ending with an anticlimactic Royse Tubino attack error to gift the defending champion its third win.
Cherry Nunag was a far second to Rondina in the scoreboard with 10 points, while Mars Alba steered the losing offense with 17 excellent sets.
Chery Tiggo wins second straight; ties PLDT at 3-1
Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers seized momentum with a first-set blowout to hand the PLDT High Speed Hitters their first conference loss in four sets, 25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, and forge identical 3-1 records.
Cess Robles continued her early-conference scoring surge with a team-high 17 points off 14 attacks and 3 aces, while Ara Galang scored 13 in the momentum-boosting victory.
Alina Bicar helped four players reach double-digit scoring, including Shaya Adorador (11) and Pauline Gaston (10) with 15 excellent sets, while Jen Nierva led the defensive side with 17 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
Savi Davison powered down 27 points off 24 attacks and 3 blocks plus 12 excellent receptions in the losing effort, as Erika Santos scored 13 and Dell Palomata added 9 with 5 blocks. – Rappler.com