PLDT beat Creamline, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23, at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Pulse Series. It was another PLDT win over Creamline — the eighth in their last nine meetings.
The High Speed Hitters needed four sets and plenty of nerve to get there. For the Cool Smashers, the puzzle keeps getting harder to solve.
PLDT win over Creamline keeps semifinal bid rolling
Thursday's result strengthened PLDT's push for a semifinal place and stretched its winning run to three after the team opened the conference with two losses. Creamline, meanwhile, dropped to its first defeat after a 4-0 start.
Savi Davison does the heavy lifting
Davison carried the load with 22 points, 20 of them on kills, and chipped in on defense with 19 excellent receptions and nine digs.
"I think you know we have to be aware that they're a very strong team and we know it's always going to be a tough match," Davison said.
"We've been working harder in the gym and everyone is contributing and working out really well," she added.
Creamline's unbeaten start is over
Creamline is still the 11-time league champion and still the team everyone measures itself against. But the recent head-to-head record belongs to PLDT, and the Cool Smashers' perfect opening run ended here.
Analysis: this rivalry keeps tilting one way
Eight wins in nine meetings is no longer a hot streak — it's a pattern. And PLDT isn't blowing Creamline off the floor to do it. The last three sets on Thursday were all settled by two points, which says the margins in this matchup come down to nerve as much as anything.
The original report is available at philstar.com.
