It was a somber 2025 for the Premier Volleyball League’s winningest club, Creamline, following its historic 2024 Grand Slam that saw the Cool Smashers sweep all three championships in a single year.
Creamline relinquished all three titles—the All-Filipino, Invitational, and Reinforced Conferences—in 2025, while its remarkable streak of 19 consecutive conference podium finishes also came to an end.
Still, head coach Sherwin Meneses believes brighter days lie ahead in 2026, with a deeper and, more importantly, healthier roster gearing up for the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, which kicks off on Saturday, January 31, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Syempre sobrang excited kasi makikita mo talaga na ‘yung mga OG ng Creamline nandiyan na sila,” said Meneses on Wednesday during the AFC Press Conference held at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.
Eight-time PVL Best Setter Jia De Guzman is set to make her much-anticipated return after two seasons in Japan, while Creamline will also welcome back 2024 Reinforced Conference MVP Bernadeth Pons. Pons spent the previous year focusing on beach volleyball, a stint that culminated in a gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games alongside Sisi Rondina, Dij Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando.
The Cool Smashers further bolstered their lineup with the acquisition of star libero Jen Nierva.
Meneses also happily shared that Creamline is nearing full strength, with sidelined stars Jema Galanza and middle blocker Bea De Leon expected to suit up.
Galanza missed the 2025 Reinforced Conference due to a nagging left foot injury, while De Leon only returned in Creamline’s final game of that conference after a lengthy recovery from an injury she sustained during the 2025 All-Filipino Conference.
“Yun pa yung isang maganda sa Creamline ngayon, very healthy na yung mga players. Number one talaga is sana magtuloy tuloy yung improvement ng health nila pero as of now talaga almost 100 percent na,” said Meneses.
With key returnees, a major new signing, and a strong core led by Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Tots Carlos, and Pangs Panaga, expectations are once again high for Creamline—and Meneses is embracing the challenge.
The Cool Smashers will begin their climb back to the top of the PVL stage on Thursday, February 5, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre against PLDT, which is coming off a two-championship campaign in 2025.
“Excited kami pero syempre lahat ng team ngayon talagang maraming na-recruit so exciting,” said Meneses.
“Syempre maging top ulit (ang goal) pero hindi ganon kadali. Hopefully, one game at a time makuha namin ‘yung games at makabalik sa taas,” he continued.
