PVL Finals Preview: Creamline vs Petro Gazz, Chapter V
MANILA, Philippines — For the fifth time in PVL history, Creamline and Petro Gazz collide in what is expected to be another classic best-of-three finals series for the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference supremacy.
The two teams have forged most finals duels between two volleyball clubs with Creamline moving a series closer to its ‘drive for five’ with its seventh consecutive finals appearance and Petro Gazz looking at another shot at what has been an elusive All-Filipino title.
The Cool Smashers are gunning for their 11th title and fifth consecutive All-Filipino — probably the sweetest and most challenging one after a six-month tournament. But standing in their way are the Angels, who are playing their best season together yet and have the strongest lineup to challenge the reigning dynasty.
SCHEDULE: 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference FINALS
Both teams split their two duels in the conference with Creamline opening its campaign with a 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 sweep of Petro Gazz last November 16 at Ynares Center Antipolo. But at the same venue, the Angels won the more important match and took down the Cool Smashers in the semifinal round opener.
Petro Gazz, which won 16 of its 18 matches, got a wake-up call from losing quarterfinals Game 1 to Play-in survivor ZUS Coffee and eventually swept the semifinals round for its fourth PVL All-Filipino finals appearance and sixth overall.
Creamline, which bagged 15 wins out of its 17 games, took the semis opener loss in stride and went on to sweep Akari and Choco Mucho to save its season and enter the finals.
Creamline vs Petro Gazz: Champions vs Champions
Seven-time Creamline champion coach Sherwin Meneses and Finals first-timer Koji Tsuzurabara of Petro Gazz bothknow it’s going to be a hell of a series between their teams.
Creamline’s core has been together since the 2021 PVL bubble in the the first pro season and the last time the franchise lost an Open/All-Filipino Conference finals series at the hands of the Jaja Santiago-led Chery Tiggo.
Since then, the Cool Smashers, led by MVPs Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons, and Michele Gumabao, have won four straight All-Filipino titles and achieved a historic grand slam last year despite the injuries of Valdez and Carlos and Galanza’s Alas Pilipinas commitment.
READ: PVL: Chemistry is Creamline’s edge vs veteran Petro Gazz, says coach
And for seven-time PVL champion coach Sherwin Meneses — the only pro volleyball coach in the country with more than 100 wins–their connection and championship tradition are their biggest advantages against the Angels.
“I think it’s a pretty even match between Petro Gazz and Creamline, since it’s 1-1 in this conference. Both teams are veterans, so I feel like Creamline has the edge in terms of chemistry. said Meneses.
“We always work hard, but Petro Gazz is also a strong team with almost the same lineup as before. It’s definitely going to be a great Finals match. But of course, we’re Creamline, and we’re not just going to give up. Our main goal is to defend the crown, so we’ll work really hard for it.”
Tsuzurabara, who arrived last year with reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle, finally got over the hump after getting eliminated in the semifinals round-robin in last year’s All-Filipino and settled for bronze. The Angels also failed to complete a ‘three-peat’ in the Reinforced Conference with a quarterfinal exit.
READ: PVL: Brooke Van Sickle ready for tough Finals battle vs Creamline
In their best season together, the Japanese coach has always instilled an underdog mentality in his wards in their biggest challenge to date–ending Creamline’s dynasty and capturing the elusive All-Filipino title in their fourth try after getting denied thrice by Creamline.
“We will be a challenger. We couldn’t go to the finals last year. This time, we’re here and we are [still] challengers, just challengers,” Tsuzurabara said.
Creamline vs Petro Gazz: Battle of MVPs
Petro Gazz Angels’ Myla Pablo and Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Creamline and Petro Gazz, arguably, have the most talent-rich wing spiker rotation. The Cool Smashers have produced five conference MVPs, led by three-time winners Valdez and Carlos, while the Angels banking on reigning All-Filipino MVP Van Sickle and two-time winner Myla Pablo, whose resurgence provided a solid back-up to their main gunner.
Van Sickle, who has strong support wingers in Pablo, Jonah Sabete, and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, is raring to put Petro Gazz on top by winning the franchise’s first All-Filipino title on top of two Reinforced Conference trophies in 2019 and 2022.
READ: PVL: Creamline braces for deep Petro Gazz squad led by Van Sickle
“They’re always a winning team. They’re always in the finals, so I’m gearing up. I already kind of been mentally preparing for the rematch and I know for a fact if we do end up rematching them, they’re going to come out at 120 percent, so we’ve got to be ready,” Van Sickle said.
“They’re super hungry, that team, and we were able to luckily get a win off of them in the semis, so we’ll see, it’s going to be a tough battle.”
Creamline captain Valdez knows that Van Sickle will spell the difference in their fifth PVL finals duel with Petro Gazz as she banners the deepest Angels’ line-up the Cool Smashers have ever faced since their first series in the 2019 Reinforced Conference, where they fell to imports Wilma Salas and the late Janisa Johnson.
“This conference, Petro Gazz has a complete team—not just in the wings, but with Sabete and MJ Phillips, too. They’re solid all around, and their bench is deep,” Valdez said.
“Plus, they’re all healthy. Looking ahead to the finals, I think the key difference for both of us, since we’re both veteran teams, will be who stays healthier and can keep up throughout the games.”
Creamline vs Petro Gazz: The Coaches’ chess match
The chess match between Meneses and Tsuzurabara in picking the right mix for the better of their team in the final stretch of the longest PVL tournament ever will also be put in the spotlight in this PVL Finals series.
Meneses has a rising playmaker in Kyle Negrito, who emerged as the league’s Best Setter and Finals MVP last year, while Tsuzurabara has two equally talented setters in Chie Saet and Djanel Cheng, who formed strong chemistry with their teammates and have been displaying their veteran smarts.
READ: PVL: Jonah Sabete thrives for Petro Gazz despite change of role
Both teams also have an equally lethal frontline with Creamline banking on Bea De Leon and Pangs Panaga and Petro Gazz boasting MJ Phillips and fit-again Ranya Musa under the guidance and leadership of captain Remy Palma.
The Cool Smashers have decorated liberos in Denden Lazaro-Revilla and Kyla Atienza but the Angels have gritty floor defenders in BLove Barbon and Jellie Tempiatura.
Will Creamline continue to extend its dominance in the PVL or Petro Gazz can finally be crowned as the new champions with its dream All-Filipino breakthrough?
Games will be held at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday and Thursday and if necessary, Game 3 is set on Saturday (April 12). Choco Mucho and Akari also clash for the bronze medal series, seeking to rise from their respective semis heatbreaks.
