Creamline eyes solo lead in PVL
DEFENDING champion Creamline shoots for a solo lead in the team standings as it faces F2 Logistics today, February 18, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) AllFilipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Cool Smashers and the Cargo Movers clash at 6:30 p.m. after the 4 p.m. encounter between Cignal HD Spikers and the Petro Gazz Angels.
Creamline hardly missed the absence of superstar team captain Alyssa Valdez as it notched its third straight win at the expense of sister team Choco Mucho on Tuesday, February 14.
The Cool Smashers, who have yet to lose a single set in this conference, thrashed the Flying Titans, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14 on Valentine’s Day.
Jia de Guzman once again orchestrated Creamline’s offense with 25 excellent sets while Ced Domingo, Michele Gumabao and Jema Galanza notched 15 points apiece to power the Cool Smashers to the victory.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said his team is just working doubly hard, especially with Valdez still out due to a knee injury she incurred in the Reinforced Conference last year.
“We’re really just taking it step by step and point by point. We’re working hard, especially because Ly (Alyssa) can’t play yet. You guys know how big of a loss Alyssa is. The players are just working hard so they can have a good game sans Alyssa,” said Meneses.
“I hope we can keep this up because our service reception has been good but I think it can be better. There’s still a long way to go but we look to maintain that,” added Meneses, whose Cool Smashers got a 23-of-42 (54.7 percent) service receive clip against Choco Mucho.
The Cargo Movers, meanwhile, aim to bounce back from a dismal 19-25, 14-25, 16-25 loss to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday, February 16.
F2 Logistics, which dropped to a 2-1 record, looked listless in that contest, especially in the second set that head coach Regine Diego got caught on camera telling her players during a timeout: “Kung ayaw niyo maglaro, sabihin niyo, umuwi na tayo (If you guys don’t want to play, just tell me, so we could go home already).”
Myla Pablo, Kim Dy and Dawn Macandili are expected to lead the charge for the Cargo Movers, who sit at second place behind unbeaten teams Creamline and Chery Tiggo.