Michele Gumabao and the Creamline Cool Smashers during a bronze medal game in the PVL on Tour. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Creamline continued its podium streak, venting its ire on Cignal, 25-17, 29-27, 25-17, for a bronze finish in PVL on Tour on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite missing an eighth consecutive PVL final, the Cool Smashers captured a medal for the 18th straight time since joining the PVL in 2017, winning their fourth bronze to add to their 10 championships.
READ: Creamline vows bounce back after missing out on PVL on Tour Final
Michele Gumabao delivered 21 points off 16 kills, three blocks, and two aces to help Creamline on the podium before opening their PVL Invitational Conference campaign on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
“Every season is different. We can’t just rely on who we were in past seasons or even in our last game. Each match is a whole new challenge. That’s why even during practice, coach asks for our 100 percent effort every day. We need to stay consistent, and we can’t ignore the little things, because it’s really our own errors that hurt us the most and cost us the games,” said Gumabao.
“But looking at the bright side, we didn’t even realize this was Creamline’s 18th straight podium finish. At the end of the day, we’re still consistent and that’s something that hasn’t been done before. Being consistent is actually one of the hardest things to achieve. Winning once is great, being a champion once is hard enough — but doing it over and over again? That’s even harder.”
Creamline Cool Smashers’ Michele Gumabao during a bronze medal game in the PVL on Tour. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Jema Galanza had another all-around game with 13 points, 12 excellent receptions, and eight digs. Alyssa Valdez had 12 points, highlighted by four blocks, and tallied seven receptions, as setter Kyle Negrito dished out 16 excellent sets on top of five points.
The Cool Smashers erased a 20-24 deficit in the second set after Alyssa Valdez delivered two straight points, followed by an ace from Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete to tie the frame.
READ: PVL on Tour: Savi Davison, PLDT eliminate Creamline to enter finals
They then saved three more set points, aided by a failed floor-touch challenge from the HD Spikers, before Pangs Panaga’s block gave them a 28-27 lead. Michele Gumabao sealed the comeback with a hit to secure a 2-0 advantage.
From a one-point lead in the third, 18-17, Creamline scored seven straight points with Gumabao’s back-to-back hits, Galanza’s ace, and Valdez’s off-the-block kill completing the bronze-clinching win.
Licking the wounds after a five-set meltdown to PLDT in the semifinals, Creamline came out firing with a 13-3 start en route to a dominant opening set.
Cignal placed fourth after losing back-to-back games including a semifinal defeat to Chery Tiggo.
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Heather Guino-o led Cignal with 13 points, while Erika Santos was limited to 12 points on an 11-of-42 attacking clip.