PVL: Creamline vents frustration on Akari to fortify semis campaign

Creamline showed how champions bounce back from a loss, hardly breaking a sweat to pull off a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 victory over Akari to resuscitate its semifinals bid in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cool Smashers got back on track in the single round robin semis and improved to 1-1 following a shock four-set loss to Petro Gazz last Saturday.

The defending champions also denied the Chargers an outright finals ticket as they fell to a 1-1 slate. Akari previously stunned Choco Mucho in a wild five-set comeback to move closer to another finals appearance.

Bernadeth Pons led the show with 17 points on 16 attacks and one block while also grabbing 12 digs and 15 receptions to complete a triple-double outing.

Pons starred in their third set breakaway, dropping three points to star in a 4-0 run that turned a close 16-14 affair to a 20-14 lead for the Cool Smashers.

Alyssa Valdez, whose power hits allowed them to close the second set on an 8-2 rampage, unleashed another kill to make it a 22-15 cushion while Tots Carlos' opposite hammer sent Creamline to a 23-16 advantage.

Valdez then converted from the left wing to deliver the match point at 24-17 before Akari made a last-gasp run courtesy of Eli Soyud opposite attack to cut the deficit to five.

But Valdez made sure Akari won't be able to replicate its last win as the seasoned spiker shattered the wall of Mich Cobb and Camille Victoria to seal it.

Valdez finished with nine points while both Carlos and Jeanette Panaga posted 13 markers.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News