Rivalry and payback aside, Creamline and F2 out to do better in Game 2

Michele Gumabao (photo above, No. 7) is looking to do even better when the Cool Smashers gun for a Final berth on Saturday. -PHOTO PVL

Almost everyone at Creamline listed the team’s line on not making the All-Filipino Premier Volleyball League semifinal series against F2 Logistics as a payback issue.

“Our mindset is that we’re never going back,” Tots Carlos said after the Cool Smashers took Game 1 on Saturday. “It’s more for us to want to be in the Final. The goal is to go up step by step.

Interestingly, that sentiment was shared on the other side of the court. Regardless of whether the team behind the net is a fierce rival or not, Cargo Movers coach Regine Diego hates to lose. “I can’t accept it [the loss]. I’m sorry, I lost so much,” Diego said after F2’s 26-24, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15 loss in the series opener.

“I really want to win. I am very competitive. I don’t need a reason.” Diego did not waste time singling out how it was bad for the Cargo Movers, who had dominated the Cool Smashers with a five-set thriller in the previous two meetings-the team had a tendency to flip switch off during the game.

“It was very difficult for us coaches to push him because when he stopped [competing]they completely stopped.

They still need to find motivation or something to say to wake them up,” said Diego.

“He can’t play like that,” he added. “It’s a semi-final. Whether you give it your heart or not. I hope they learn from it because it’s very important. It’s not just a random game. It’s a semi-final. It’s a different ball game now.

That’s why the resurgent hitters know the importance of getting things done as the two teams battle it out again in Game 2 on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, where the Cool Smashers will try to punch a ticket to the championship. “We will continue to work,” Gumabao, who posted big points in the fourth decisive set, said.

“In the last round of the tournament, there is no rest and we have to keep grinding since training, listening to the instructions and scouting reports from our coach. And for us, we have to do it right.

The two teams clash at 6:30 p.m., after Petro Gazz also clinched the title against PLDT in Game 2 of their own series starting at 4 p.m. The Angels bounced back from a poor first set to take Game 1, 22. -25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18.

Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro expects a strong response from the High Speed ​​​​Hitters, but also knows that his team will rise to the challenge.

“PLDT is an amazing team. But a great team will only push us forward,” said Almadro.

“He really pushed us to the limit so we could see our weak spots, especially in the first and second sets where things were really close.” They are humble and fighters, and they really want it,” added Almadro.

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