Creamline flexed its dominance once again, sweeping ZUS Coffee in straight sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21, to secure another shot at a podium finish in the PVL Invitational on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blending talent with unmatched experience, the Cool Smashers asserted their dominance early and never looked back – though they faced a late scare from the gritty ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the third set.
Refusing to go down quietly, the Thunderbelles turned the final frame into a tightly contested battle, engaging the 10-time champions in a thrilling back-and-forth exchange.
Even when Jema Galanza took matters into her own hands, firing off three consecutive power hits to give Creamline a 23-20 lead, ZUS Coffee stayed within striking distance, pulling to within two after an AC Miner block made it 21-23.
Then Creamline’s X-factor stepped in.
Seldom-used Rose Vargas delivered a clutch kill to bring the Cool Smashers to match point. What followed was the match’s longest and most intense rally – a gripping exchange of power shots, digs and clever placements, with both teams refusing to yield. In the end, it was Vargas again who sealed the deal, blasting a thunderous hit that split two defenders and clinched the win.
“This was our last game in the prelims, so dapat ibigay lang namin ang best namin for the momentum for the battle for third,” said Galanza, whose superb all-around performance – 18 points, 13 excellent receptions, and 11 digs – earned her the Best Player of the Game award.
Reflecting on yet another missed title shot, the former Adamson U standout said the experience served as a much-needed reality check for the squad.
“Wake-up call siya para sa amin,” she admitted. “Para ma-boost pa lalo kami sa mga next tournaments at ma-improve kung ano pa dapat i-improve sa team.”
Creamline thus wrapped up its campaign with a 2-3 record, securing a battle for third place against Chery Tiggo, which finished just ahead with a 3-2 slate.
ZUS Coffee, in contrast, ended its campaign winless at 0-5.
Valdez and Gumabao matched nine-point outputs while Pangs Panaga added seven markers, Sheena Toring and Kyle Negrito added six points apiece, and Lorie Bernardo chipped in four markers.
Miner led ZUS Coffee with 15 points while Kate Santiago and Riza Nogales scored nine and seven points, respectively, and Fiola Ceballos and Wielyn Estoque combined for eight makers.
Creamline dominated ZUS Coffee with a 43-28 edge in attacks and asserted its control at the net, tallying 14 blocks – five more than the Thunderbelles.
Meanwhile, PLDT, undefeated from the PVL On Tour through the Invitational Finals, aims to extend its winning streak to 13 matches while eyeing a historic second consecutive championship. The High Speed Hitters will go head-to-head with a determined Kobe Shinwa squad, which pulled off a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Chery Tiggo, rallying from two sets down and dominating the decisive fifth set to secure the last Finals berth.
From the opening serve, the Cool Smashers imposed their presence at the net with stifling blocks and sharp execution, overwhelming a youthful but overmatched ZUS Coffee side.
Creamline quickly took control in the first set, out-blocking the Thunderbelles 8-2 – a defensive clinic that set the tone for the romp. That early edge at the net disrupted ZUS Coffee’s rhythm and forced hurried attacks that repeatedly failed to pierce Creamline’s well-formed wall or precision floor defense.
Galanza, Valdez, Gumabao and Bernardo led the Cool Smashers’ fluid offense, orchestrated by the ever-reliable Negrito. The team’s chemistry and composure were evident, with seamless rotations and consistent pressure applied across all three sets.
Even when ZUS Coffee attempted to mount a comeback in the third frame, Creamline's poise and depth sealed the sweep in one-hour and 21 minutes.
The win thus set up a bronze medal showdown against familiar rivals Chery Tiggo Crossovers – adding a layer of payback to the prize. The Crossovers handed the Cool Smashers a stinging five-set loss in the preliminaries last Saturday, practically denying them a place in the Finals.
With a third-place finish already secured in the PVL On Tour after toppling the Cignal HD Spikers, the Cool Smashers are eager to reclaim their spot on the podium – and perhaps a measure of redemption – against the Crossovers.
Creamline’s bronze medal match is expected to be a high-stakes battle, but its commanding performance against ZUS Coffee underscored its readiness and refusal to go home empty-handed.
The Thunderbelles, who played without several of their regular starters in their first four lost games, showed up with ace setter Cloanne Mondonedo, top hitter Chinnie Arroyo and Miner, who led the charge. Despite their efforts, the gap in experience and firepower was too wide.
The Cool Smashers, on the other hand, came in at full strength and left nothing to chance. Determined to keep their medal streak alive, they delivered a no-nonsense performance, efficiently dismantling ZUS Coffee to stay on course for at least a bronze finish.
