Creamline Cool Smashers complete PVL All-Filipino Conference “three-peat” after sweeping the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Saturday.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Despite missing two stars, Creamline remained invincible to complete a “three-peat” in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday.
Even the toughest challenge by their sister team in Game 2 couldn’t stop the Cool Smashers from going all the way to the top as they withstood the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in a five-set thriller to cap their season with a title-clinching 22-25, 25-20, 29-27, 24-26, 15-12, win in front of a record-breaking crowd of 24,459 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Creamline turned to Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza in the whole game but it was Alyssa Valdez, who nailed a pair of championship-clinching kills to earn their fifth All-Filipino title and seventh crown overall—reasserting its status as the most successful club in the league.
The Cool Smashers were forced to a fifth set, where they went down early, 3-6, needing a spark from Valdez and role players Michele Gumabao and Jeanette Panaga to steal the momentum and take a 13-11 lead.
Valdez drilled an off-the-block hit to bring her team to championship point, 14-11, before Sisi Rondina saved a point for Choco Mucho. The three-time PVL Most Valuable Player capped their perfect run with a championship-clinching attack, leading to a wild celebration in front of a historic crowd in Philippine volleyball.
“Ang nasa isip ko lang pag pinasok ako ni Coach, gagawin ko lang din yung trabaho ko para makatulong sa team,” said Valdez. “Basta ibibigay ko yung lahat para sa team. Maraming salamat din kay coach, definitely, sa trust na binigay niya kasi di ako naglaro ng ilang sets, but binigay niya sa akin yung opportunity na yun.”
Carlos powered Creamline with 26 points, while Galanza dropped 21 points built on 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace to go with 20 excellent receptions and nine digs to overcome Rondina’s 33 points — a new PVL Finals record.
Valdez sat out in the second and third sets and only scored eight points but she provided the most important points in the fifth.
Creamline Cool Smashers during Game 2 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference against Choco Mucho on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.–PVL PHOTO
The Cool Smashers won all 15 games this conference even without Jia De Guzman and Ced Domingo, who are playing for the Denso Airybees in Japan and Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand, respectively.
Setter Kyle Negrito accomplished her mission of filling in the big shoes of the eight-time best setter after dishing out 22 excellent sets, which led to another balanced attack by Creamline.
Bernadeth Pons was also instrumental with 14 points. Jeanette Panaga had 11 points including three blocks, while libero Kyla Atienza had 14 receptions and 11 digs.
“Ngayon sobrang saya kasi syempre natapos namin yung conference ngayon na champion and walang injuries so napakasaya namin lalo na mag-kiChristmas and makakapagpahinga na,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses after winning his fourth PVL crown, surpassing former tactician Tai Bundit’s three titles.
“Fifth set kasi anybody’s game na yan eh. May buwenas din kami kasi ganun yung nangyari. Yung composure kasi ng team andoon pa naman so yun sa tingin ko pinaka magandang nangyari. Siguro yung break napunta samin amd yung willing talagang manalo ng Creamline kasi yung Choco talagang gustong gusto din manalo,” he added.
It was the biggest PVL tournament so far, featuring 12 teams, but Creamline stayed unfazed and swept the All-Filipino for the third time after their perfect runs in the 2019 and 2022 editions.
The Cool Smashers won two of the three tournaments this year — both All-Filipino Conferences — losing only the Invitational final to Japanese team Kurashiki Ablaze.
After dropping the opening set, Creamline never wavered, flexing its championship poise in the pressure-packed second and third sets as it scored eight straight points in the second frame capped by Galanza’s block on Maddie Madayag to tie the game at one set apiece.
Carlos powered the Cool Smashers in the neck-and-neck third set, which had four deuces before Carlos put her team at set point anew, 28-27. Bernadeth Pons delivered the set-clinching attack for Creamline.
The Cool Smashers couldn’t complete a comeback from a 21-24 deficit in the fourth set as Maddie Madayag’s swipe and an attack error from the defending champion allowed the Flying Titans to force a decider.
Choco Mucho settled for a silver medal in its first-ever finals appearance since joining the league in 2019 despite Rondina’s 29 attacks, three blocks, and an ace on top of nine receptions and seven digs.
Madayag had another solid finals performance with 16 points. Kat Tolentino finished with 15 points highlighted by six kill blocks, while setter Deanna Wong made 19 excellent sets.