Big rebound for Cool Smashers

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline unleashed its pent-up emotions from its rare, painful defeat last time as it downed Capital1 Solar Energy, 25-18, 25-14, 25-15, yesterday to get back on track and remain at the helm in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With their 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 defeat to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers Saturday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna still rankling, the Cool Smashers made sure there was no repeat in mangling the Solar Spikers for the dynastic franchise’s fifth win in six outings.

That kept the league’s most titled squad at first spot after sharing it with Petro Gazz, Cignal, PLDT and sister team Choco Mucho with their identical 4-1 records entering the showdown.

“Dinala namin ang sakit para makapag improve kami sa training,” said Creamline’s leader Alyssa Valdez, who chipped in five points while anchoring her squad’s floor defense with a team-high eight digs.

“Sobra quiet namin sa dugout (after the loss), pero alam namin sa isa’t isa na grabe tumatakbo sa isip namin para mag improve and ma-correct mistakes. Ito motivation namin this conference,” she added.

For Tots Carlos, who paced the team with 14 points, all they needed was to return to basics.

“Diniin lang sa amin yung sistema ng mga coaches,” she said.

Capital1 slipped to 1-5.

Valdez also relished playing against her former coach, Capital1’s Roger Gorayeb.

“It’s always nice to go up against your former coach,” said Valdez of Gorayeb, her coach in Ateneo, the national team and several PVL teams.