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Armed with reliable veterans, the Creamline Cool Smashers get a crack at a record-extending 11th PVL championship as they end a three-conference finals drought.
MANILA, Philippines – It feels good, old times for Creamline as the Cool Smashers returned to the PVL finals.
With the usual suspects in charge, Creamline reached its record-tying 15th title streak after a 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19 victory over Farm Fresh in the semifinals of the All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, April 16, at the San Juan Arena.
Tots Carlos scored 15 points, Jema Galanza and Pangs Panaga chipped in 13 points apiece, while Bernadeth Pons had 12 doubles, 17 rebounds and 17 rebounds as the Cool Smashers — the winningest team in PVL history with 10 titles — ended a three-game finals drought.
Creamline finished with an even 2-1 record against Cignal in the round-robin semifinals — the two teams set up their first title showdown since the 2024 Conference Invitational, where the Cool Smashers captured their last championship.
“Other teams are trying to strengthen themselves, and they are creating competitive ranks, but the basis of Creamline remains the same. That is a blessing for us – that it is the same people who play. And maybe that will be our advantage: the chemistry of the team,” Creamline Head Coach Sherwin Meneses in a mixture of English and Filipino.
After completing the first ever PVL Grand Slam following their 2024 treble sweep, the Cool Smashers suffered a disastrous exit from the 2024-25 campaign without a title.
They settled for second in the All-Filipino playoffs last season, placed third in the PVL in the Tour Conference and Invitational, then made the quarterfinals in the Enhanced Conference.
It seemed like the glory days of the Cool Smashers were over, but they showed they can once again weave their magic when they have the old band back together.
Reinforcements came to Creamline in this meeting, with star player Jia de Guzman returning after a three-year absence from the PVL following a stint in Japan and Pons returning to the fold after missing most of last season due to his commitment to the Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball team.
The team of champions they are known for, the Cool Smashers won two death and survival matches and earned a spot in another tournament.
“Our journey back to the final was not easy,” said Pons. “This conference is special because we have been tested since elimination. We had a tough time against every team we faced.”
The best-of-three final will begin on Tuesday, April 21, at the Araneta Hall.
“We are very happy, but the work is not done. We need to prepare and get back to work so that we can reach our goal in this meeting,” Pons said. – Rappler.com
