The Creamline Cool Smashers played catch-up almost the entire game before pulling off a 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 win over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 1 of the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference finals on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jessica Galanza tallied 20 points, built on 18 attacks and two blocks, to be named Player of the Game as the Cool Smashers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three title series.
“Ayaw ko lang na matapos itong game na hindi kami ang panalo. Nakikita ko ‘yung mga teammates ko na lumalaban, then ‘yung (mga nasa bench) chini-cheer kami, so hindi kami sumuko,” Galanza said.
“Talagang inilaban namin itong game na ito at sobrang sarap lang at nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” she added. “Pero hindi pa rin kami pwede mag-relax, mas paghahandaan namin ‘yung next game.”
After failing to protect their lead in the opening set, the Cool Smashers turned things around in the second frame for a 19-13 spread after being down 3-8. Choco Mucho rallied to within 20-23 before Creamline finished off the set with back-to-back hits.
The Cool Smashers fell behind anew early in the third set as the Flying Titans surged to a 13-7 start. Creamline clawed their way back for a 22-21 lead before Galanza ended the set with three straight points.
Just like in the previous sets, the Flying Titans gained an early 9-5 edge in the fourth set, but the Cool Smashers bounced back to take a 13-11 edge and never looked back.
The Cool Smashers can secure the championship in Game 2 on Sunday night at the same venue.
The post Creamline outduels Choco Mucho, moves closer to PVL title repeat first appeared on Fastbreak.
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