Drawing on its vast championship experience from 13 finals appearances, including 10 titles, Creamline pulled off a stunning comeback in a gripping five-set battle, hacking out a 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13 decision over a vastly-improved ZUS Coffee side in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Thursday.
Faced with their toughest challenge yet in the record six-month tournament, the Cool Smashers exhibited their trademark poise and resilience. After struggling in the fourth set against ZUS Coffee's efficient hitting and falling behind majority of the way in the decider, they found a way to prevail in dramatic fashion.
Key to their victory were crucial mishits by Michelle Gamit, the first handing Creamline a 13-12 lead, and the final error securing their hard-earned two-hour, 23-minute win, matching idle Cignal’s hot 4-0 start.
Though the Thunderbelles ultimately fell to 2-3, they gave the defending champions a massive scare. Creamline, entering the match as heavy favorites, faced unexpected resistance from ZUS Coffee, whose spirited play demonstrated their growing confidence and potential.
The Thunderbelles showcased their composure in an extended second-set win, proving they belong among the league's contenders. Although late miscues cost them the pivotal third set, they roared back in the fourth, dominating their rivals with a decisive 6-0 start to force Creamline into their first five-set match of the conference.
In Set 5, ZUS Coffee controlled the tempo, maintaining small leads, including an 11-9 advantage after a brilliant kill by Kate Santiago. However, the Cool Smashers leaned on their wealth of experience, with Jema Galanza stepping up in the clutch.
Galanza, who had been quiet in the fourth and much of the fifth, fired back-to-back kills, the first levelling the score at 12 and the other bringing Creamline to match point.
ZUS Coffee had hoped to replicate its earlier heroics, but Gamit overcooked a running attack that sailed long. The Thunderbelles challenged the call, but video review confirmed the ball had cleared Creamline’s defenders untouched, sealing the victory for the Cool Smashers to the delight of their fans and the heartbreak of ZUS Coffee’s supporters.
“Even in practice, we simulate these kinds of scenarios to build mental toughness. The good thing is that we’re able to execute and apply them effectively during games,” said team captain Alyssa Valdez, who flashed vintage to lead Creamline’s charge with 17 points.
She may have sat out the fourth set and had limited minutes in the fifth, but her impactful plays in the second and third sets highlighted the exceptional talent and skill of the multi-time league MVP.
“I just enjoyed the game. ZUS Coffee really challenged us, but we’re happy to come away with the win,” said Valdez, who managed just eight points in their previous match against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans. “I’m excited and motivated to keep improving myself.”
Bernadeth Pons matched Valdez's output, while Galanza and Michele Gumabao delivered 15 and 14 points, respectively. Middle blockers Bea de Leon and Lorie Bernardo, stepping up in place of Pangs Panaga, each added seven markers, powering the Cool Smashers to a hard-fought victory.
Creamline showcased its offensive prowess with 72 attack points, six more than ZUS Coffee.
The Cool Smashers also tallied seven aces, with setter Kyle Negrito and Bernardo contributing two each, compared to ZUS Coffee’s four. However, the Thunderbelles dominated at the net, recording 11 blocks, six more than Creamline.
Despite yielding 33 points on unforced errors, Creamline capitalized on 27 mistakes from ZUS Coffee to offset its lapses and secure the win.
It was a tough loss for the Thunderbelles, who displayed their most balanced and prolific scoring performance in five games. Kate Santiago led the charge with 19 points, while Thea Gagate added 15 markers. Chai Troncoso overcame an early slump to finish with 13 points, and both Gamit and Jovelyn Gonzaga contributed 11 points each.
