Creamline restored order in the third set to put Army Black Mamba crashing in four sets, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, in the semifinals of the 2022 PVL Invitational Conference on Thursday at Ynares Centre, Antipolo.
Tots Carlos led Creamline with 24 points and 19 digs while Alyssa Valdes dropped 18 markers as they opened their bid at 1-0.
Army, meanwhile, moved on the brink of elimination after sliding to 0-2.
Leading by three late in the second set, Creamline suffered a meltdown as Army tied things up at 22-all off a Jovelyn Gonzaga kill.
Gonzaga soared anew for another attack to give the Lady Troopers the set point, 24-23, before an ace from Audrey Paran equalized the game.
But the Cool Smashers got their act together in the third, racing to a 22-15 cushion following an ace from Jia Morado as they took full control of the set.
Team captain Valdez then drilled two consecutive attacks as Creamline sealed the third chapter, 25-19.
Red-hot Valdez ended a long rally followed by her own block to give Creamline a huge 19-11 advantage in the fourth as Army continued to struggle.
