Its championship mettle tested time and again by a relentless Chery Tiggo side, Creamline leaned on its vast experience and unmatched depth to weather the storm and carve out a hard-fought 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 victory, claiming the third semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo late Saturday night.
The two-hour, 16-minute victory thus sent the Cool Smashers to the Final Four, joining the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Akari Chargers with the last semis berth to be contested by the Petro Gazz Angels and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in a sudden-death showdown on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.
Down 15-22 in the fourth set, the Crossovers refused to surrender, mounting a spirited comeback led by Seth Rodriguez. Capitalizing on a series of Creamline errors, they clawed their way back to 22-24. But with the game on the line, Kyle Negrito delivered a perfect set to Bea de Leon, who executed a quick attack – one that had worked near-flawlessly throughout the match – sealing the win and extending Creamline’s streak to 17 consecutive PVL semifinal appearances.
“We trusted each other and worked hard to bring back our good vibes and energy after a slow start,” said de Leon, who tallied 14 points, including five kill blocks, earning her the Best Player of the Game award. “We believed in the system. Coach Sherwin (Meneses) gave us clear instructions, and we focused on executing them.”
More importantly, the Cool Smashers showcased their depth and resilience in a gripping contest of strategy and composure, most specifically in the pivotal third set – a grueling 37-minute battle – where Meneses made a game-changing move by inserting Jema Galanza and Michelle Gumabao, who provided the spark the team needed against the relentless Crossovers.
With the set hanging in the balance, Bernadeth Pons and Cess Robles engaged in a thrilling exchange of blows. But just as momentum teetered, Galanza made an immediate impact off the bench, first breaking Chery Tiggo’s rhythm with a powerful through-the-block hit at 16-18, then executing a smart drop ball that keyed a crucial 4-1 Creamline surge from a 19-all standoff, propelling them to a 23-21 advantage.
Robles kept the Crossovers alive with her third straight kill, but it was Gumabao – renowned for her clutch performances – who slammed the door shut. With her signature ferocity, she blasted a missile that ricocheted off a Chery Tiggo defender and into the stands, before sealing the set with a masterful down-the-line strike past two blockers.
It was a defining display of Creamline’s championship DNA – calm under pressure, rich in experience and bolstered by a second unit capable of stepping up in the biggest moments.
With momentum on their side, Creamline overcame an early hiccup in the fourth, turning a narrow 3-0 deficit into an 18-12 lead, thanks to key contributions from de Leon, Pons, Tots Carlos and Pangs Panaga.
Sensing trouble, Chery Tiggo’s coach Norman Miguel called a last-ditch timeout, urging his team to regroup. The Crossovers responded with a late surge, but they ran out of time and options.
Creamline, well-versed in high-pressure moments, held its ground to secure the win – adding yet another chapter to their storied PVL legacy, which includes 10 conference championships and a record-setting Grand Slam feat.
Pons led the defending champions with 18 points, while Carlos matched de Leon’s output. Panaga contributed eight markers, while Alyssa Valdez and Negrito chipped in six points each.
Rodriguez delivered a breakout performance with 16 points, including five blocks, stepping up as Chery Tiggo's key spikers struggled with their attacks. Robles added 14 points, while Ara Galang tallied 11 markers.
However, Shaya Adorador managed only seven points after being slowed down by cramps in the crucial third set.
Creamline dominated the spiking battle, 56-47, but Chery Tiggo made its presence felt at the net with 12 blocks – five more than the Cool Smashers – thanks to their solid defense in the opening frame.
Negrito also outperformed her counterpart, Alina Bicar, in playmaking, 25-19, as the Cool Smashers completed a sweep of the Crossovers following their straight-set victory in Game One of their best-of-three series last Tuesday.
