CREAMLINE geared up for its much-awaited clash with Pocari Sweat this weekend by routing Hair Fairy-Air Force, 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-12, to match the defending champion’s hot start in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last Sunday.
League leading scorer Alyssa Valdez continued to dish out explosive form, hammering 20 attack points and producing three aces to lead the Cool Smashers’ domination of the fourth set to capture their third straight victory.
Pocari Sweat also picked up its third straight win last Saturday, checking an impending skid to edge the Power Smashers, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 15-11.
The two unbeaten teams take a break tomorrow before colliding on Saturday in what promises to be a slam-bang duel between the two fancied teams in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Valdez has also been drawing solid support from the bench with Rosemarie Vargas blasting in 10 kills and finishing with 11 points and Pau Soriano adding 10 markers.
The Cool Smashers also pounced on the Jet Spikers’ sloppy service reception, coming away with nine aces. They also won in attacks, 48-38, and produced 12 digs more than their rivals with 59.
Playmaker Jia Morado also kept Creamline’s vaunted offense going by coming with 36 excellent sets, 12 more than Wendy Semana of Air Force, which bounced back with a three-point win in the third before crumbling in the fourth.
The Cool Smashers racked up nine points while holding the Lady Jet Spikers to a lone marker in the fourth frame on their way to a huge 17-4 lead.
Iari Yongco fired 18 hits for Air Force, which dropped to 1-1.
Meanwhile, newcomer Megabuilders picked up its third straight win, outclassing Gamboa Coffee Mix, 25-23, 25-11, 25-16, Sunday to seize the solo lead with a 3-0 card in the men’s side of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.
Gamboa fell to 0-2 in a tie with Café Lupe.
Army, on the other hand, edged defending champion Air Force in a thrilling five-set duel, hacking out a come-from-behind 25-20, 23-25, 17-25, 25-22, 16-14 victory to even its card at 1-1.
The Jet Spikers slid to 2-1.
Image credits: Roy Domingo