Creamline spoils Jorge de Brito's Capital1 debut with sweep win

Creamline made easy work of a revamped Capital1 with a 25-10, 25-21, 25-10 win to kick off its campaign in the PVL On Tour on Sunday at the Chavit Coliseum in Ilocos Sur. 

The Cool Smashers, eager to bounce back from an unusual silver medal finish in the previous All-Filipino Conference, dominated right from the get-go until the final point to spoil new Capital1 head coach Jorge de Brito's debut game. 

"Happy kami kasi 'yung start ng campaign namin ay maganda, especially na maiksi 'yung preparation. Sa next game namin may aayusin pa namin," Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said.

Rookie Sheena Toring showed no jitters in her first game as a professional player, shining early on and delivering the quick kill that sent Cool Smashers to a 24-20 lead in Set 2. 

But the Solar Spikers fought back with Rovena Instrella powering a quick 2-0 run before Alyssa Valdez unleashed one from the left wing to wrap it up. 

Creamline came out firing in Set 3, unleashing a blistering 7-2 run to set the tone early before Rachel Austero provided some source of light for Capital1 on her quick kill, 6-9. 

That was the closest they got as the Cool Smashers responded with a lethal 11-1 run highlighted by three straight hammers from Jema Galanza and a Lorie Bernardo rejection on Trisha Genesis for a huge 20-7 cushion. 

The lefty Bernardo, who is a natural middle blocker, proved she can also deliver as a wing spiker after converting three of their last four points from the opposite side. 

Galanza top-scored Creamline with 12 points and eight digs while Michele Gumabao and Pangs Panaga chipped in 11 and 10 markers apiece as the veterans led the way in the absence of other starters Bea De Leon, Tots Carlos, and Denden Lazaro. 

Capital1, who has yet to unveil top rookie pick Bella Belen, relied on Instrella, who tallied seven points laced with four digs. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News