MANILA, Philippines — The Creamline Cool Smashers have won 11 Premier Volleyball League championships by making a living seizing the set that matters most.
Creamline was no different on this one, shutting the door on Farm Fresh in the final set of a thrilling 25-18, 24-26, 25-22, 23-25, 15-4 victory yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that sent the team to the brink of the PVL Invitational finale.
Forced to a decider, the Cool Smashers kept their poise and dominated the Foxies.
“For me, the experience of my players in those pressure-packed situations showed,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
It was Creamline’s third straight win, and one more victory would catapult it straight to the one-game finale set Sept. 8 also at the Big Dome.
It clashes with Est Cola of Thailand today then defending champion PLDT on Sunday.
Jema Galanza unleashed a match-high 27 points including 22 off attacks while Sachi Minowa scattered 17 hits, 14 on spikes and three on blocks – all in the deciding set.