CREAMLINE overpowered Army-Black Mamba, 25-15, 25-20, 25-12, to reclaim the top spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena yesterday.

Tots Carlos led the way for the Cool Smashers with 17 points, including two service aces, and six receptions while Michele Gumabao had two blocks for a 11-point outing.

Ranged against a winless team in the Lady Troopers, other players were given court time by coach Sherwin Meneses, with Rose Vargas firing a match-best four service aces for a seven-point effort to go along with four receptions.

“May opportunity lang talaga na makapaglaro yung mga stringers,” said Meneses after the one-hour, 24-minute match. “Yung training naman ng first six namin, same din lang naman ng mga stringers so alam naman ang gagawin nila. Happy kami na maganda ang inilaro nila. Mahaba pa naman yung liga at matutulungan pa namin yung isa’t isa.

“Masaya ako kasi hindi lang ilang points yung nailaro nila. Almost one set yung mga stringers. Yun yung napakagandang nangyari ngayon. Sa mga next games namin, alam namin kung sino yung makakatulong pa sa amin. Lahat naman kasi iyan, ready eh. Masaya kami kasi nakalaro lahat,” he added.

With a 5-1 record, Creamline remained on course for a place in the Final Four, as Meneses hopes that everyone is healthy in the final two elimination round matches – against PLDT next week and Akari on March 14 in Iloilo City.

Carlos’ fitness was crucial as the Cool Smashers, who missed the league’s second-leading scorer Jema Galanza who was feeling under the weather.

“I feel great. Minor injury lang naman pero at least, I got a chance to rest for a bit,” said Carlos. “Siyempre kapag nawala sa training and sa games, kailangan mong bumawi pagbalik mo. Okay na ako.”

Army, which got 12 points, nine digs and seven receptions from Royse Tubino, suffered its fifth consecutive defeat.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado