This was a preview of the final on Sunday.
The Kurashiki Ablaze continued its splendid showing on Friday, dispatching the erstwhile unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-14, in what was essentially a no-bearing match at the PhilSports Arena.
It was, however, a preview of the gold-medal match that will take place on Sunday, also at the same venue. And, on this night at least, Kurashiki looked like the superior team, showcasing solid floor defense, attacking with ferocity and precision, and playing with the poise and discipline of a champion.
Tamaru Asaka, who has been blazing hot for the Ablaze this whole tournament, led the way again for Kurashiki with 19 big points. She was ably backstopped by the 15 markers of Saki Tanabe and the 13 points of Yukino Yano, who also added 12 excellent digs to lead that incredible Japanese defense.
Creamline, in contrast, looked nothing like the team that went unbeaten practically this entire midseason tourney, committing uncharacteristic errors, falling behind by big margins, and showing little of the vaunted attacks that have made the Cool Smashers the winningest team in PVL history.
Alyssa Valdez, who has picked up her game lately, totaled just 7 points on Friday, while MVP candidate Tots Carlos chipped on only 10 points as the Cool Smashers could not quite smash their way past Kurashiki’s defense.
Then again, what happened in this game should be taken with a grain of salt as it is practically a glorified exhibition. But it will be a different story come Sunday, as both teams will surely go all-out in their winner-take-all championship match.
The gold-medal match is scheduled at 6:30 p.m., also at the PhilSports Arena.