The Creamline Cool Smashers would not be denied this time around.
After a narrow miss in their first attempt, Creamline achieved what no other team in Premier Volleyball League history had ever accomplished: clinching the league’s first-ever grand slam.
They secured this historic feat at the expense of the Cignal HD Spikers.
Despite trailing 1-2 in the match, the Cool Smashers displayed remarkable resilience in overcoming the determined HD Spikers in a gripping five-set battle.
The final score read 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, as Creamline captured the 2024 PVL Invitationals title at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This victory marks Creamline’s tenth title in franchise history and their second in the Invitational Conference. It further solidifies their dominance and distinguishes them from the rest of the league.
“Ngayon, talagang sobrang saya namin. Siyempre hindi [madali] ‘yung pinagdaanan namin. Thankful ako sa mga players namin at sa mga staff namin, kung bakit namin na-achieve ‘to, kasi nagtulong-tulong talaga kami,” said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.
The dynamic duo of Erica Staunton and Bernadeth Pons once again played pivotal roles for Creamline. Staunton delivered a standout performance with 29 points, including 26 attacks, two aces, and one block.
Meanwhile, Pons complemented her with 27 points, 16 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs.
“My team, I love my team, I don’t wanna get emotional. I love my team so much, they’re the best,” Staunton expressed with deep emotion.
“Unang una, sobrang grateful ko lang talaga na na-survive namin ‘tong game na ‘to. Sobrang sunod sunod ‘yung games, sobrang tight ng schedule, but we still managed to win the championship and get the grand slam,” said Pons.
“Sobrang saya ko na finally nag-grand slam na rin ‘yung Creamline and I’m a part of it,” Pons added.
Facing a 1-2 set deficit in the fourth frame, the Cool Smashers mounted a comeback. Back-to-back hits from Staunton gave them a 24-22 lead.
However, Chin Basas scored off a cross-court hit and blocked Jema Galanza to push the game into deuce.
At 24-all, Staunton delivered a crucial cross-court hit. Galanza then got her revenge on Basas, leading to a deciding fifth set.
In the final set, both teams battled fiercely. A costly error from Ces Molina, followed by consecutive attacks from Staunton, allowed Creamline to turn an 8-all deadlock into an 11-8 lead.
Jackie Acuña’s emphatic running hit briefly halted Creamline’s momentum, but Kyla Atienza’s dig of Molina’s serve, which the HD Spikers failed to defend, extended the Cool Smashers’ lead to three points.
MJ Perez narrowed the gap to 12-11 with an off-the-block attack and a block on Staunton. However, a subsequent attack error and a cross-court hit from Galanza restored Creamline’s three-point lead, putting them at match point.
Backup setter Mafe Galanza committed a service error, and Perez’s blistering cross-court attack cut the lead to 13-14. Yet, it wasn’t enough as Galanza clinched the grand slam with a decisive attack.
That sealed the season-ending title just a week after Creamline won the Reinforced Conference crown.
Creamline finished the conference with a perfect 5-0 record, marking their fourth perfect conference in franchise history and only the fifth in league history.
Galanza, who missed the first three games of the tournament, contributed 11 points. Jeanette Panaga also had 11 points, with six attacks, three blocks, and two aces in the two-hour, 33-minute match.
Final MVP Kyle Negrito provided 25 excellent sets, while libero Kyla Atienza added 19 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions for the Cool Smashers.
On the other hand, the HD Spikers fell short once again, finishing as runners-up for the second time in team history.
Perez delivered an impressive 42 points – the highest scoring mark in a finals game – through 37 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. She also recorded 17 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs.
Acuña, one of the Best Middle Blockers, had 10 points, while team captain Molina also scored 10 points along with eight excellent receptions.
Gel Cayuna contributed 22 excellent sets, and Dawn Catindig added 25 excellent digs.
