MANILA, Phillipines – Facing a do-or-die situation, the Creamline Cool Smashers dug deep with the heart of a champion to preserve their PVL All-Filipino Conference five-peat title bid with a 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9 finals Game 2 win over the Petro Gazz Angels at the packed Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, April 10.
Former MVP Bernadeth Pons led the cardiac win with 22 points on 19 attacks, 2 aces, and 1 block as Creamline takes the winner-take-all Game 3 to the PhilSports Arena.
Reigning Finals MVP Jema Galanza, after sitting out most of the round-robin semifinals due to a hand injury, staged her resurgence with 13 points, followed by 12 from middle blocker Pangs Panaga and 11 from former MVP Michele Gumabao.
Down to the wire as Petro Gazz forced a deciding fifth set, Creamline showed the heart of a champion on the back of its rousing fans as a Pons and Galanza-led rally from a small 8-7 lead ballooned to 12-8 off a pivotal 4-1 swing.
The Angels only managed one attack from there as a booming Galanza ace wrapped a bow on the back-and-forth contest to force the sudden-death finale in Pasig City.
Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips paced the loss with 18 and 15 points, respectively, as Jonah Sabete scored 14 in a usual support role. – Rappler.com