Cool Smashers gun for sweep, greatness
Games Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. – Cignal vs Chery Tiggo
6 p.m. –Choco Mucho vs Creamline
MANILA, Philippines – Before the night ends Saturday, Creamline's place as the greatest Premier Volleyball League team of all time should have already been secured.
Unless, of course, Choco Mucho can come up with a tidal wave of a performance and change the landscape.
But until it happens, the Cool Smashers could sweep their way to the PVL All-Filipino Conference title at the expense of the Flying Titans in Saturday's Game 2 of their title series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was evident in its 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22 Game 1 win Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena that the mighty and proud dynastic franchise remained a head above the competition, including a supremely talented Choco Mucho team out to secure its own place in history.
Just like its elder sibling.
That title, if secured, would be No. 7 for Creamline — the most by any club that ever joined the league since its inception almost two decades ago.
It will also be the Cool Smashers' 13th straight podium finish — another league milestone — in a magnificent stretch wherein they also snared three runner up finishes and the same number of third place efforts.
It wouldn't be the first time also for Creamline to sweep a conference. They also did it last year in the Open Conference.
And the competition prays it won't become a habit.
But Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, as unassuming as he is, doesn't want to count the chickens before they hatch.
"Hindi pa tapos, kailangan pa magtrabaho," said Meneses.
And expected to lead the charge is no less than its unquestioned leader, team captain Alyssa Valdez.
Valdez wasn't even the top scorer in the opener.
Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza were with 16 points apiece.
But the unchallenged face of Philippine volleyball was behind the scenes doing the "unsexy" but vital things like digging where she had 11 and receiving where she had eight.
Most important of all, Valdez's omnipresence was more felt because of her strong leadership.
She wasn't taking the credit alone though.
"It was a collective effort," said Valdez.
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