Both teams will barely have enough rest before going to war again on Thursday for all the marbles.
Pressure-packed games like a championship match put the players’ characters to a test.
The Creamline Cool Smashers passed it with flying colors on Tuesday when they forced a decider in the PVL All-Filipino Conference finals via a cardiac 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6 win over the Petro Gazz Angels.
But the Cool Smashers have to do more to repeat that in Game 3 on Thursday, also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said these two things will make a world of difference in the rubber match, which is expected to have all the trappings of a classic.
“'Yung puso na binigay ng mga players [kanina] dapat doblehin pa nila sa Game 3,” Meneses said.
“And composure. Yun [ang] pinaka-importante. Basta may composure ka makakagalaw ka [maayos].”
Tots Carlos couldn’t agree more.
“Makikita mo talaga lalo nung fifth set, na titignan mo lang teammates mo alam mo na gusto namin 'yung laro. Makikita mo lahat humihingi ng bola, inaako talaga bola,” she said.
Indeed, things are never easy against a Petro Gazz side led by Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Grethcel Soltones.
When the Cool Smashers looked like they were going to pull away in the fourth frame, the coach Oliver Almadro-mentored Angels inched closer little by little before forcing the deciding fifth set.
That’s why Jia de Guzman said “our best today has to be even better.”
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada, One Sports Digital)