Creamline disposes of Cignal, ascends back to PVL throne
MANILA, Philippines — For a little over 19 months, a cloud of doubt hovered over the Creamline Cool Smashers’ head and their chances of reclaiming their old place at the apex of the Premier Volleyball League.
All of the uncertainties dissipated Thursday as Creamline completed its return to the top with an epic 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 victory over a fighting Cignal side in a two-game finals sweep of the PVL All-Filipino Conference before a roaring 17,358 paying patrons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was the 11th title for the ice cream-producing club, which handily took the opener, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, last Tuesday.
But it took a while for the Cool Smashers to regain its old throne after last reigning supreme in early September of 2024, which interestingly came at the expense of this same team it conquered on this memorable night.
It was worth the wait though.
“This conference wasn’t easy because we had so many struggles but it was all worth it,” said Creamline spiker Bernadeth Pons, who dropped a team-best 22-point effort including critical ones in the final set.
For returning setter Jia de Guzman, words to describe their triumph escaped her.
“I’m speechless, I really am, with all these emotions, I really describe it,” said De Guzman, who presided over the attack with 31 excellent sets while chipping in two hits, including one that helped her team rally back from a 9-7 deficit in the last frame.
While Creamline basked in glory, the Manny V. Pangilinan franchise was left tattered and weary after falling short of grabbing their breakthrough crown on their third attempt.
Earlier, PLDT turned back Farm Fresh, 25-14, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-5, to sweep their series and clinch third place.
Kianna Dy found her groove in most perfect time and fired a team-best 21 points that included 14 kills and six blocks, another team high, as the High Speed Hitters, who took the opener 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 26-28, 15-11 last Tuesday, claimed their first third-place trophy.
In all, it was the franchise’s third podium finish that came right after its conquests in the PVL on Tour and Invitational last year.
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