Creamline showed no signs of letting up in its quest for another Premier Volleyball League championship, delivering a commanding 25-19, 25-15, 25-15 victory over Choco Mucho before a roaring crowd at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night.
The Cool Smashers wasted no time, swiftly dispatching the Flying Titans in just an hour and 14 minutes to secure their place in the finals against the Petro Gazz Angels, who await them in what promises to be an exciting showdown for the All-Filipino Conference crown.
With its deep and healthy roster, Creamline proved too tough and too powerful for a Choco Mucho side depleted by injuries to key players. This victory not only marked the Cool Smashers’ seventh straight finals appearance, but it also underscored their unceasing thirst for PVL glory.
“This was a do-or-die match, but for us, the mindset was simple – only ‘do,’” said playmaker Kyle Negrito in Filipino, who orchestrated Creamline’s attack with precision and earned the Best Player of the Game honors with 17 excellent sets.
Despite the lopsided victory, Negrito emphasized the team’s disciplined approach.
“Every point had a strategy, every play had a purpose. We stuck to the game plan, executed well, and we’re happy that it paid off,” she said.
Beyond her stellar playmaking, Negrito also made her presence felt on the scoreboard, chipping in three points to cap off her all-around performance.
Game One of the best-of-three championship series kicks off on Tuesday, also at the Araneta Coliseum, where the Cool Smashers will continue their relentless pursuit of another title, while the Angels will fight for their first-ever crown in the league’s premier tournament.
The highly anticipated showdown is set against the backdrop of a historic six-month-long conference, featuring a groundbreaking format that has reshaped the competition.
Since settling for third place in the 2022 Reinforced Conference, the Cool Smashers have been on a relentless pursuit of success, winning the last four titles, including a historic Grand Slam last year. As they aim for their 11th championship, the Cool Smashers remain a dominant force in the league organized by Sports Vision.
In stark contrast, Petro Gazz will make its maiden appearance in the All-Filipino Finals, marking a promising new chapter for the Angels, who have previously won two Reinforced Conference titles.
With the emergence of Petro Gazz as a new power in the PVL, the league now sees the rise of a fresh challenger poised to challenge Creamline’s supremacy.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho’s tournament ended in disappointment, as the Flying Titans dropped all their games in the semis. They will now face the Akari Chargers in the battle for third place.
The tournament also highlighted the emergence of new contenders, with ZUS Coffee and Galeries Tower making impressive playoff runs. The Thunderbelles even stunned the Angels in Game One of their quarterfinal series, showcasing the future potential of these up-and-coming teams.
Four Cool Smashers delivered double-digit performances, showcasing the team’s firepower in a dominant victory. Bernadeth Pons led the charge with 14 points, while Tots Carlos added 13. Alyssa Valdez and Pangs Panaga chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively, further highlighting Creamline’s balanced offensive attack.
Middle blocker Bea de Leon also made her presence felt, finishing with nine points, including four crucial kill blocks.
Nothing exemplified Creamline’s dominance more than its defensive clampdown on Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina, holding her to a career-low seven points in a must-win game for the Flying Titans.
Isa Molde topped Choco Mucho’s scoring with nine points, while Royse Tubino matched Rondina’s limited output. Cherry Nunag and Deanna Wong contributed two points apiece.
Despite her struggles on offense, Rondina remained a defensive force, tallying eight excellent digs and 15 receptions. However, her efforts went unrewarded as Choco Mucho faltered.
Creamline’s superiority extended across the board, overwhelming its sister team in attacks (47-25) and dominating at the net with 10 blocks – seven more than Choco Mucho’s tally.
After a tough four-set loss to Petro Gazz, Creamline quickly bounced back, proving its championship pedigree with back-to-back dominant wins over Akari and Choco Mucho to secure the last Finals berth.
Petro Gazz, the last team to advance to the semis after surviving a sudden-death battle against ZUS Coffee, made an emphatic statement by sweeping the Final Four to claim the first championship seat.
For a moment, the third set seemed destined for a tight finish as Choco Mucho battled to a 12-all count. But Creamline shifted into high gear, unleashing a blistering four-point run, with Pons delivering two crucial blows.
The Cool Smashers never looked back, scoring on kills and imposing their net defense to dismantle the Flying Titans' vaunted offense.
The Flying Titans simply had no answer as the Cool Smashers closed the match with a scorching 13-3 run, completing the sweep and punching their ticket to yet another Finals appearance.
Earlier, Creamline held off Choco Mucho’s determined challenge in the first set, pulling ahead after a tight contest with a roaring run to claim a 21-15 advantage.
The Flying Titans, however, responded with three unanswered points, closing the gap to just two. However, Carlos ended a lengthy rally with a powerful off-the-block hit, and de Leon denied Rondina's backrow attempt, putting the Cool Smashers at set point.
After a brief exchange, Carlos added a clever drop shot over two blockers, giving Creamline the early lead in the crucial match.
The defending champions outperformed the Flying Titans in hitting, 14-9, but it was their strong net defense that ultimately made the difference. Creamline finished with five kill blocks against Choco Mucho’s one.
