The Cool Smashers are looking forward to the semis.
The Creamline Cool Smashers finished off the eliminations on winning note, dusting off the Akari Chargers in four sets, 25-17, 25-22, 27-29, 25-8, at the San Agustin Gymnasium in Iloilo on Tuesday.
It was another total team effort for Creamline opposite Akari, with all the usual suspects taking their turns carrying the fight for the Cool Smashers. Michele Gumabao was her usual fantastic self, while Tots Carlos was spectacular yet again. Jema Galanza, meanwhile, did not disappoint her loyal fans, several of whom flew all the way to Iloilo from Manila to support the MVP.
With the win, the Cool Smashers cemented their place atop the standings at 7-1, which means they will be the top seed in the much-anticipated semifinal round of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Star setter Jia de Guzman, though, isn’t satisfied with Creamline being a top seed—not after the Cool Smashers played lethargic third set that gave the Chargers a lease of life.
“Coach Sherwin [Meneses] keeps reminding us to just stick to the system and improve whatever we can,” said de Guzman post-game. “There were a lot of faulty plays today that we want to improve going into the semifinals.”
De Guzman, who finished with 8 points on 2 attacks, 1 block, and 5 aces, is also well aware that the greater the stakes, the harder the games will be as the homestretch of this conference draws near. And she knows exactly what the Cool Smashers have to do moving forward.
“We just wanna stay hungry,” said de Guzman, who added 22 excellent sets in Creamline’s win. “We don’t want to settle talaga kasi iba ‘yung labanan going into the semifinals.”
The Cool Smashers will have three days to prepare for the semis, which will start on Saturday, March 18, at the PhilSports Arena. However, they will find out their opponent only on Thursday, after the PLDT High Speed Hitters take on the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.