Creamline rewrote the annals of women’s volleyball history in epic fashion, hacking out a gripping five-set escape that left Choco Mucho shattered in its wake.
With a deafening roar from the crowd of 23,162 filling the hallowed halls of the Smart Araneta Coliseum late Sunday night, the Cool Smashers surged triumphantly over the Flying Titans, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11, claiming their third straight All-Filipino Conference crown and solidifying their reign with an eighth championship in the Premier Volleyball League.
But it was far from an easy victory for the Cool Smashers, especially after finding themselves trailing, 1-2, in sets. Yet, drawing upon their wealth of experience, unwavering poise and championship pedigree, they once again demonstrated their resilience and determination.
As white confetti showered the court, the Cool Smashers erupted into ecstatic celebration, their fans echoing their jubilation from the sidelines to the highest reaches of the coliseum, a fitting tribute to the continued dominance of a team forged and hardened by numerous championships.
In stark contrast, the Flying Titans seemed to buckle under the intense pressure of the high-stakes encounter. Despite mounting a spirited comeback, led by the troika of Sisi Rondina, Royse Tubino and Cherry Nunag, narrowing the gap to 11-12 in the fifth, they faltered as the Cool Smashers surged ahead, spiked by Bernadette Pons’ clutch back-to-back hits that brought them to match point.
Alyssa Valdez’s loaded serve in the ensuing play proved too much for the Choco Mucho defense to handle, resulting in an overset from Deanna Wong, followed by a decisive putaway from Bea de Leon, igniting a raucous celebration.
It was a poignant moment for the former Choco Mucho middle blocker, who savored her first league championship, falling to the floor in sheer elation after her title-clinching play.
Coach Sherwin Meneses was quick to deflect the praise onto his players, commending their unwavering commitment and tireless dedication during training sessions.
“Our players give 110 percent in training, never tiring even during our three-our sessions. The game is always there and it’s all thanks to the players, not us coaches,” said Meneses.
He emphasized the importance of teamwork, attributing their success to the collective effort of every member of the team.
“It’s all about teamwork, everyone plays a part. Whatever one does, everyone else follows suit,” he added, reflecting on his effective utilization of player substitutions throughout the game.
Jema Galanza, who delivered a stellar performance reminiscent of her heroics in Game One which they won in four, shared the credit with her teammates. “I can see in the eyes of my teammates the determination to win this game,” she said, undeterred even when their team fell behind in sets, 1-2. “We’re here, and we’ll fight until the end.”
“It’s truly an overwhelming feeling because we never expected to make it to the finals. Actually, we struggled even in the semifinals. But here we are, champions once again,” she added, encapsulating the team’s remarkable journey to reclaiming the title.
She finished with 20 points and drew solid backup from the rest with Pons shining with 17 markers, Tots Carlos proving clutch with big hits in the fifth to end up with 16 points and Pangs Panaga stepping up once again to score 13 points.
De Leon and Michele Gumabao each had seven markers while Kyle Negrito, Mafe Galanza and Risa Sato chipped in two points and Valdez added a single point in a limited stint.
Galanza and Pons showcased their versatility by not only delivering impressive offensive performances but also demonstrating superb defensive skills as the former contributed 16 excellent receptions and the latter capped her game-long brilliance with 15 receptions and 9 digs, next to Kyla Atienza’s 20 excellent digs.
On the other side, Rondina exploded for 31 points, Tubino scored 20 markers and Nunag finished with 14 points, while Isa Molde and Maddie Madayag added 10 points apiece to underscore the Flying Titans’ balanced offensive arsenal. Despite their collective effort, it was not enough to extend the series to a deciding Game 3.
Creamline’s triumph likewise enabled Petro Gazz to secure the bronze despite yielding a five-setter to Chery Tiggo earlier that leveled their series at one game apiece. The Angels, however, took third place with a superior tiebreak score.
