MANILA, Philippines – Creamline stayed on track of its title defense in the 2019 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference. 

The Cool Smashers clinched a hard-earned win over the Pacifictown Army Lady Troopers, 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinals on Wednesday, July 3, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. 

Thai player Kuttika Kaewpin led the Cool Smashers with 21 points, all from kills, as Creamline again faced a tough Pacifictown team that dragged them to full distance in the 2nd round. 

“Hindi puwede kami kumurap lalo na sa mga veteran team like Army kasi very smart, intelligent sila kung paano sila maglalaro,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez. “Kaming mga medyo nakakabata din, kailangan mas smart din kami.”

(We can’t blink against a veteran team like Army because they’re very smart and intelligent in how they play. Younger players like us must also play smarter.)

After losing the extended opening frame, the Lady Troopers unleashed a 5-0 run to take the lead, 19-18, in the 2nd set. 

But the Cool Smashers answered back with a 5-0 run of their own, on the way to a 2-0 match advantage. 

Pacifictown held a 19-11 lead over Creamline in the 3rd set, but the Lady Troopers blew the eight-point lead as the Cool Smashers managed to knot the score at 22-all. 

Pacifictown import Olena Lymareva-Flink, though, lifted the Lady Troopers past their errors as they took the 3rd set to keep the match alive.

But the Lady Troopers failed to sustain their momentum as Creamline grabbed control after Risa Sato took the lead midway through the 4th set, 12-11.  

Creamline looks to wrap up the series against Pacifictown in Game 2 on Saturday, July 6, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. – Rappler.com