The winning vibes continue for the Cool Smashers ahead of the crossover phase of the PVL Reinforced Conference.
In a blink of an eye, Creamline found themselves in a familiar position: at the top.
Flaunting their deadly championship pedigree, the Cool Smashers rolled into a fourth straight win and the no.1 seed in Pool A via 25-18, 25-18, and 25-20 dismissal of the Nxled Chameleons in the PVL Reinforced Conference in the Philsports Arena, Pasig on Thursday, August 8.
Bernadeth Pons continued her fine play with 13 points, built on 11 attacks and two blocks, on top of 14 excellent digs for Creamline, who dug deep in the final set to earn their first-ever straight-set win in the mid-conference joust.
Holding a slim 17-16 lead in the second set, the Cool Smashers shifted to high gears down the stretch and launched a lean 8-2 finish capped off by a Bea De Leon kill block for a commanding 2-0 set lead.
The Cool Smashers erased an early 11-5 deficit in the third set, tying the game at 15-apiece and led for the first time,19-18, courtesy of a Pons kill block.
It was all Cool Smashers from that point on as a Michele Gumabao block sealed Creamline's comeback win.
Despite sharing a 4-1 win-loss card to end the opening round, the ladies in pink edged PLDT, who won earlier over the Farm Fresh Foxies, for the top seed in Pool A due to earning more total points through five games. They amassed 13 while the High Speed Hitters had 12.
Even if Chery Tiggo wins in straight sets against the Galeries Tower later, the eight-time PVL champion would still end up as the no. 1 squad from the pool with the Crossovers only getting a maximum of 11 total points through five games.
Meanwhile, the Chameleons dropped their fourth straight game after starting the import-laden conference with a win.
They raced to a fast start in the third set and led by as much as six points, but could not capitalize once Creamline staged a late comeback.
Nxled will open their Pool D campaign against the Capital1 Solar Spikers, who finished as the no.3 team in Pool B on Saturday, August 10.