Creamline scores huge comeback over Choco Mucho; Petro’s Salas, Van Sickle combine for 72

Creamline comes back from a 14-23 third-set deficit against Choco Mucho to complete a sister team sweep, while Petro Gazz leans on its dynamic duo Wilma Salas and Brooke Van Sickle to carve out a five-set win over PLDT

Choco Mucho enters breakthrough finals; faces sister team Creamline – Welcome to Tribune Sports!

MANILA, Philippines – Heading to the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference quarterfinals, the Creamline Cool Smashers hurdled a major test after facing sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

Down 14-23 and 19-24 in the third set, the Cool Smashers found their resolve and downed the Flying Titans in straight sets, 25-16, 25-19, 31-29, in front of over 9,000 spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, August 17.

“Honestly, I [was focused] on leading my teammates, knowing that if we were going to [come back], we were going to do it together, and I just really appreciated them feeding me the ball,” Creamline import Erica Staunton said after the game.

“I was feeling good in the third set, it took me a minute. My teammates really had my back throughout the game,” she added.

 

The American reinforcement dropped 19 points, built on 17 attacks and 2 blocks, helping lead the team to its fifth win in seven games.

Bernadeth Pons added 12 markers, 14 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs for the Cool Smashers, which took an hour and 40 minutes to take the victory.

Pangs Panaga provided 8 valuable points to the effort, scoring big points down the stretch to help the Cool Smashers pull the rug under the feet of the slumping Flying Titans.

Despite wilting under pressure, it seemed that Choco Mucho was close to forcing the fourth set, after a spike by setter Mars Alba to make it 30-29, her final point before being benched.

Panaga then scored a kill block, before Staunton sealed the deal with a cross-court attack.

“We are happy since we were able to recover in the third set,” head coach Sherwin Meneses said after the game.

“It boosted our morale, since we were challenged in the third set as we dug ourselves out of a big hole,” he added.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat was the lone double-digit scorer for the Flying Titans with 10, as the team inches closer to elimination from playoff contention with a 2-5 slate.