The Creamline Cool Smashers exacted revenge from their finals loss last year as they dethroned the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in four sets, 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19, in the 2022 PVL Open Conference quarterfinals on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Cool Smashers, who earned a twice-to-beat quarterfinals edge, relied on Jeanette Panaga in the endgame to clinch a semifinals berth with 15 points, 11 of them coming from her furious attacks.
Tots Carlos topscored for Creamline with 17 points, while Jema Galanza made 16 markers. They are now waiting for the winner of the quarterfinals matchup between Choco Mucho and PLDT.
Creamline went on cruise control in the first two sets, unleashing a barrage of kills and displaying dynamic team chemistry in completing set plays that rattled Chery Tiggo’s defensive adjustments.
The third set was a lot closer than expected as Crossovers open hitter EJ Laure led the come-from-behind set victory, with her timely attacks creating costly errors for the Cool Smashers.
Chery Tiggo rose from a three-point deficit down the stretch to score five straight points in the third set win.
In the fourth set, the Cool Smashers became more determined in scoring attack points, wary of a possible comeback by the Crossovers.
Alyssa Valdez, Carlos, and Panaga fired crucial hits to break the 16-all deadlock and eventually notch the match victory.
Panaga, a blocker from the College of Saint Benilde, ended the match with a solid running spike that sealed the Sherwin Meneses-mentored squad’s entry to the semifinals.
Mylene Paat led Chery Tiggo in their losing effort with 11 points, as the deposed Open Conference titlists were relegated to the classification round.
