Photo credit: PVL

The Creamline Cool Smashers weren’t about to let history repeat itself. After nearly fumbling a 2-0 lead against Cignal in their last match, they came into Thursday’s showdown against Chery Tiggo with laser focus—and it showed.

Executing three crucial scoring runs, the defending Grand Slam champions cruised to a dominant 25-17, 25-17, 25-21 victory at the Philsports Arena, reclaiming the top spot in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference standings.

Cool Smashers Keep Their Foot on the Gas

While the first two sets saw Creamline pulling away midway, the third set was a test of composure. With the score knotted at 19-all, the Cool Smashers dug deep and closed it out with a 6-2 run, proving they had learned their lesson from their previous five-set scare.

“We wanted to maintain that extra push and focus, and we did,” said Bea de Leon, who delivered a stellar 13-point performance, earning Player of the Game honors.

Her contribution went beyond just numbers—two blocks, three aces, and a steady presence at the net kept Chery Tiggo on their toes. But de Leon was quick to shift the spotlight to the team’s overall effort.

“It was a team effort. Everybody contributed to executing our plays,” she emphasized.

Balanced Attack, Deep Bench, and a Dominant Finish

Creamline’s depth was once again on display. Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga, and Tots Carlos delivered key hits in the final stretch before Alyssa Valdez sealed the deal with a powerful kill.

Chery Tiggo tried to challenge the final point, citing a net touch, but the video review confirmed the hit was clean. Coach Norman Domingo even apologized to Creamline’s Sherwin Meneses for the brief delay in their celebration.

With the win, Creamline (8-0) overtook Petro Gazz (7-1) for the top spot, while Chery Tiggo slipped to 5-5.

Galanza chipped in nine points, Panaga and Carlos each had eight, and Valdez added seven. Meanwhile, Bernadeth Pons—fresh off a 27-point explosion against Cignal—had a quieter night with five points, playing only in the first set.

On the other side, Ara Galang led Chery Tiggo with 14 points, but the Crossovers struggled to find offensive rhythm, with no other player scoring in double digits.

Locked In from Start to Finish

Despite a slow start in the first set, trailing 10-13 at one point, Creamline flipped the switch with an 11-3 run, capped by a Galanza rocket. From there, it was all Cool Smashers, with de Leon, Galanza, and Pons leading the charge.

The second set saw a tighter battle, with Chery Tiggo even leading at 15-14. But once again, Creamline’s ability to shift gears came into play. De Leon ignited a blistering 10-2 run, featuring three aces and key plays from Panaga, to put the set out of reach.

By the third set, Chery Tiggo tried to hang around, but when push came to shove, Creamline’s experience and firepower proved too much to handle.

On the Road to a Sweep?

With just three more wins needed to sweep the ranking phase of the record six-month conference, the Cool Smashers are looking unstoppable. Their next challenge? Staying sharp and hungry as they inch closer to history.