Creamline avoided a huge scare from the gutsy Farm Fresh side, overcoming a first set hiccup to pull off a 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 25-16 victory for its breakthrough win in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.
Import Erica Staunton shone with an all-around outing with her 26 points built on 23 attacks and three blocks while also grabbing 14 excellent receptions as the Cool Smashers bounced back from their opening day loss to PLDT to improve to 1-1 in Pool A.
Farm Fresh, meanwhile, fell to a 0-2 hole.
The Foxies stepped on the gas pedal late in the first set to take a clutch victory, but the Cool Smashers regrouped in the succeeding sets with Staunton and Michele hitting crucial points to end the second and third frames in their favor.
It was also Gumabao’s attack that tore the game apart in the fourth, giving her side a 16-6 advantage before the 23-year-old Staunton took care of business the rest of the way. The reinforcement knocked down four of Creamline’s five points, including the game-winning kill from the pipe.
Gumabao provided the help from the local crew with 21 points as they continued to miss the services of three stars in Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, and Alyssa Valdez.
Earlier, PLDT and Chery Tiggo proved their opening day wins were no fluke, sweeping Galeries and Nxled to take an early 2-0 lead in Pool A.
The High Speed Hitters made quick work of Galeries, 25-19, 25-16, 25-17, while the Crossovers pulled off a similar sweep against the Chameleons, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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