Coach Sherwin Meneses, Michele Gumabao waits for cross-match round, hopes Alyssa Valdez will return to the squad soon

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Creamline finishes first in PVL Pool A after dominating Nxled

Creamline secured the top spot in Pool A after dominating Nxled, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference first round at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.

The Cool Smashers, now riding a four-game winning streak, ended atop Pool A tied with PLDT at 4-1 but finished first due to superior match points with 13.

Creamline will face Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, and ZUS Coffee in the next round in Pool C.

“Ang key naman diyan is mag-improve kami every game, every training so ‘yung mga lapses namin nung game one is talagang medyo cino-correct talaga namin,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses as they rebounded from their opening day setback.

“Hopefully mag-improve pa kami hanggang dulo.”

The Cool Smashers needed to overcome a 5-11 deficit in the third set, with Michele Gumabao, Lorie Bernardo, and Bernadeth Pons teaming up for the straight-sets win.

Tied at 20, Jai Atienza committed a costly service fault that triggered an avalanche for Creamline. Gumabao delivered back-to-back points, followed by an Erica Staunton crosscourt kill.

Gumabao then put the final nail in the coffin with a solid block on Trisha Genesis, securing the win in one hour and 39 minutes.

(C) PVL Images

Pons and Staunton led the balanced attack for the Cool Smashers with 13 points apiece, with Pons also adding 14 excellent digs and eight receptions.

Gumabao contributed 12 points, while Kyle Negrito set the tone with 12 excellent sets and four points. Liberos Kyla Atienza and Denden Revilla tallied 10 digs and eight receptions, respectively.

(C) PVL Images

The Chameleons, on the other hand, continued their skid, dropping their fourth consecutive game for a 1-4 record. Nxled will meet Akari, Cignal, and Capital 1 in Pool D.

Nobody from the Chameleons reached double figures, with Jho Maraguinot leading with nine points, followed by American import Meegan Hart with seven.