Losses sting, but what softens the blow is the knowledge that you left everything on the floor. For Creamline, that truth has defined their 2025 Premier Volleyball League Invitational campaign — a run that fell short of a Finals berth, yet still showcased the team’s enduring spirit.
The Cool Smashers, a perennial powerhouse in the PVL, saw their title hopes slip away after back-to-back gut-wrenching defeats.
First came a five-set heartbreaker against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 15-17, followed by a grueling four-set loss to Japan’s Kobe Shinwa University, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 21-25. Those setbacks ended Creamline’s quest for another championship appearance.
Yet even with the sting of elimination fresh, there was no regret from head coach Sherwin Meneses and team leader Jema Galanza — only pride in the effort their squad poured into every match.
“Siguro yung mga losses namin, talagang binigay ng team yung 110-percent nila yun naman yung pinakamahalaga eh. Ibigay nila yung 110-percent nila sa mga games so kung ano yung resulta, hindi ka magsisisi kung matalo ka o manalo,” Meneses shared after Creamline closed out its elimination round with a morale-boosting sweep of ZUS, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21, on Friday.
Galanza echoed her coach’s sentiments, emphasizing that while the results weren’t what they hoped for, the effort never wavered.
“Kami naman, alam naman din namin sa sarili namin na ginawa namin yung best namin kaso nga hindi lang kami umabot doon sa dulo,” the former MVP admitted.
Now, the Cool Smashers set their sights on another battle with the Crossovers — this time with bronze on the line. The two teams collide on Sunday at 4:00 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, serving as the prelude to the championship showdown between PLDT and Kobe Shinwa.
For Creamline, a bronze finish may not carry the same shine as a championship, but it still speaks volumes about their consistency. Should they prevail, it would mark their 19th straight podium finish — a streak that has cemented them as the PVL’s standard of excellence.
And for a team that has lifted 10 league titles, perspective matters. Galanza made it clear that while the disappointment lingers, there remains pride in what the Cool Smashers can still bring home.
“Hindi naman para damdamin namin (‘yung mga talo) kasi may medal pa rin naman kaming pwedeng iuwi,” she said.
