OH SO GRAND!
There’s very little left for Creamline to prove. So it just keeps elevating the benchmark.
The Cool Smashers are now a 10-time PVL champion and to make it even sweeter, they made league history by becoming the first team to complete a Grand Slam: Creamline swept all three titles available this season, ruling the All-Filipino, Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
“It was not easy getting the Grand Slam but we got it,” coach Sherwin Meneses said in Filipino after Creamline swept the Invitational Conference, 5-0, wrapping it with a 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13 title triumph against Cignal late on Thursday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The championship came just a week after the Cool Smashers won the Reinforced by blanking previously undefeated Akari in the Final.
Young import Erica Staunton dropped 29 points, 26 from attacks, to power Creamline to the historic win while Bernadeth Pons came up with 27 points on 24 attacks, a pair of aces and a block.
Finals MVP
The Reinforced MVP was all-around after also catching 13 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
Only the third playmaker to be recognized as Finals MVP, Kyle Negrito lobbed 25 excellent sets, with her decision-making playing a crucial part for Creamline’s attackers to be able to pierce Cignal’s floor defense led by the returning and relentless Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
“I am really happy that we got the Invitational championship that we were not able to get last year,” Negrito said referring to Creamline’s silver finish against Japanese club Kurashiki Ablaze.
“We’re also happy to get the Grand Slam which actually isn’t a part of our mindset; what was important for us was to work for one point at a time, one game at a time,” she added.
Creamline came home with the win despite the 42-point showing of Perez, the highest scoring output in a Finals game. The Venezuelan ace collected 37 attacks, two blocks and three aces.
“I am so grateful for each one of us because the game earlier wasn’t really easy because it was so close and we had a slow start,” Reinforced MVP Pons said.
Keeping momentum
The Cool Smashers flaunted their experience in crucial situations and never gave up despite being a set down to bring the game to the all-or-nothing fifth set.
And Creamline never let go of the momentum even at 8-8, as Cignal also fought tooth-and-nail for every possession. A crucial error by Cignal import MJ Perez set up the Cool Smashers for the victory, 13-11.
Jema Galanza brought Creamline to match point and even with the error of her sister Mafe from the service line and a crosscourt by Perez, Galanza remained unfazed and punched in a kill off the block for the crown.
Ces Molina and Jackie Acuna each had 10 points as the HD Spikers settled for a second silver medal.
“But everyone still delivered despite the toughness and high-intensity game. Everyone was still focused and no one let up because we really wanted to get this game,” Pons said.
Meanwhile, after seven PVL seasons, Michele Gumabao is finally an MVP.
The former La Salle star was named top player of the Invitational Conference after emerging as the top local scorer in the weeklong tournament, accumulating 59 points from 52 attacks, four aces, and three blocks.
