Thrust once more into a thrilling five-set showdown with Petro Gazz, Bernadeth Pons and the rest of the 10-time champion Creamline Cool Smashers dug deep into their well of grit and experience, determined not to let history repeat itself.
With their backs against the wall and everything on the line, the Cool Smashers rose to the occasion, breathing life back into their five-peat dream by taking Game 2 of the 2024–25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals on Thursday night.
“Siguro lesson din talaga sa amin ‘yung fifth set nung nakaraan. Kasi pinush namin eh na hanggang fifth set pero hindi namin nakuha,” said Pons.
Creamline looked uncharacteristically shaky in Game 1, falling into an early 0–2 hole after getting caught off guard by Petro Gazz’s relentless firepower. But like true champions, the Cool Smashers slowly regained their rhythm, rallying with poise and precision to take the next two sets and force a heart-stopping decider.
Yet in the final stretch, their fire began to flicker.
Visibly fatigued, the Cool Smashers couldn’t keep up as the MJ Phillips-led Angels surged ahead, landing the final blows in a 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10 victory — putting them just one win away from a historic first All-Filipino Conference crown.
(C) PVL Images
Still, Creamline refused to go down without a fight.
Fuelled by their painful Game 1 loss, the Cool Smashers leaned on Pons and Jeanette Panaga to deliver in crunch time and fend off Petro Gazz in another gripping five-set thriller, 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9, to level the series.
“Sobrang laking bagay din ‘yun na sa fifth set ngayon na parang ayaw na naming maulit ‘yon. So ang mindset lang talaga is one point [at a time], one point,” said Pons, the reigning Reinforced Conference MVP.
“Kapag nagkakamali kami, let go agad at focus kami sa next na gagawin namin. So sobrang nakatulong din sa team.”
After committing an attack error early in the fifth set, Pons simply smiled it off — and made up for it with five clutch points down the stretch.
The Far Eastern University standout finished with an all-around stat line of 22 points, 12 excellent receptions, and nine digs in the do-or-die match. She also credited head coach Sherwin Meneses and his staff for constantly reminding them to shake off lost sets and stay locked in on the one they were playing.
“Unang-una, sabi nga sa amin ni coach after nung Game 1, hindi pa tapos. So ‘wag kami masyado mag-isip kasi may Game 2 pa, so hawak pa rin namin, nasa kamay pa rin namin,” said Pons.
“Kanina rin bago kami pumunta dito, ang reminder talaga sa isa’t isa na hindi namin isusuko ‘tong game na ‘to hangga’t ‘di natatapos, ‘di kami titigil,” she continued.
With the championship on the line and the series going the distance, Pons vowed to leave everything on the floor and fight tooth and nail for one last win in the five-month-long All-Filipino Conference.
“All out talaga kami sa Saturday. Kasi last na eh, wala ng bukas. So ‘yun na ‘yun, todo na talaga. All out. All heart. Ilalaban talaga namin kasi pinush na namin ‘to eh.”
#WATCH: Coach Sherwin Meneses lauds the grit of Benadeth Pons, Jema Galanza, and the Cool Smashers for pushing the #PVL2025 Finals series to a do-or-die
@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2025 pic.twitter.com/sBxtRB2sQe
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 10, 2025
