Been there, done that.
And once again, Creamline stands on the brink of another championship, inching closer in a manner strikingly reminiscent of their heroic run two years ago.
By taking Game Two, 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9, before a boisterous Thursday crowd of 11,058 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Cool Smashers evened their best-of-three Finals series with the Petro Gazz Angels, keeping their bid for the coveted All-Filipino crown alive.
But make no mistake – this is no ordinary decider. In a sudden-death showdown where everything is on the line – pride, prestige, preparation, history – it’s Creamline which carries the weight of experience and the confidence of a battle-tested core.
In a thrilling match filled with momentum shifts, the Cool Smashers delivered the final, decisive swing, engineering a crucial 3-1 run led entirely by Bernadeth Pons. This burst of action turned a 5-all count into an 8-6 advantage at the switch of courts.
Pons scored all three points during that stretch – a powerful hit, a push off a loose block by the Angels, and a blast on her second attempt that negated Brooke Van Sickle’s rolling shot.
Although Myla Pablo kept the Angels in the game with a kill, she faltered with an attack error in the next rally. Pangs Panaga then extended the lead to three points, dumping the ball over an overpass following a Lorie Bernardo serve.
From there, Petro Gazz couldn’t muster a comeback, as Creamline closed out the game with their signature strong finish.
After MJ Phillips fired off a quick hit, the Angels unraveled both offensively and defensively. This led to a dominant 5-1 run by Creamline, triggering a raucous celebration in the coliseum as the crowd favorites clinched a Game 3 showdown that promises to be a classic.
“Puso ng kampeon,” Pons declared after being named Best Player of the Game with 22 points in the two-hour, 14-minute victory. Her performance wasn’t just about scoring – she also excelled in defense with 12 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.
“Sobrang saya. Ang ganda ng laro ng team at ginawa lang namin ung reminder na ‘huwag titigil hanggat di natatapos. Kahit nakuhanan kami ng set, kahit nalamangan kami, andun pa din kami – laban pa rin,” said Pons, emphasizing the team's relentless spirit.
Despite the setback – their first loss after winning six straight since the quarterfinals – the Angels remain very much in the fight. With one more shot at redemption, they’ll look to regroup and deliver a strong response in Game 3, aiming to end their campaign on a high note.
The winner-take-all match is set at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) at the Philsports Arena.
Jema Galanza also made her presence felt early in the match and wrapped up with 13 points, while Panaga and Michele Gumabao provided solid support, chipping in 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
Creamline managed to outgun Petro Gazz in attacks, 55-53, in a tightly contested offensive duel.
Both teams were evenly matched at the net with 10 kill blocks apiece, but the Cool Smashers held the edge in service, delivering 10 aces compared to the Angels’ seven.
Despite giving away 27 free points – four more than the 23 errors committed by Petro Gazz – Creamline’s firepower and composure proved enough to get the job done.
Van Sickle spearheaded Petro Gazz’s offense with 18 points, while Phillips and Jonah Sabete added 15 and 14 markers, respectively. Pablo also contributed 11 points in a balanced scoring effort.
With poise under pressure and a killer instinct in the clutch, Creamline clawed back and positioned itself just one set away from forcing the rubber match they so desperately sought.
But it wasn’t meant to be – not yet. Petro Gazz had other plans and a celebration already in sight.
Staring down the possibility of a Game 3 where Creamline would hold all the cards – experience, depth, composure, and overwhelming fan support – the Angels responded with urgency and fire. Channeling their Game 2 rhythm, Petro Gazz came out blazing in the fourth, jumping to a 4-0 start. They held the lead at 8-7, then shifted into overdrive.
A fierce offensive flurry followed, capped by a Dacoron putaway and a Van Sickle service ace that stretched their lead to a commanding 18-9.
Meneses looked stunned as the Angels ran riot. With the gap ballooning to 21-10 – sparked by a Panaga service error – Meneses opted to rest his main guns, conceding the frame in favor of a fresh push in the decider.
Phillips crushed a quick-hit to bring Petro Gazz to set point, and Dacoron sealed it with a deflected block touch, sending the match into a thrilling fifth set and keeping the Angels’ dream of a title sweep very much alive.
But the fifth set in a championship match is often reserved for the brave-hearted – those with the grit, experience and composure to thrive under pressure. It’s where poise matters as much as power, and where the slightest edge can define legacies.
