Creamline’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive PVL championship and fifth straight All-Filipino Conference title remains on track.
The Cool Smashers dominated the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in straight sets, 25-19, 25-15, 25-15, to set up a best-of-three Finals showdown with Petro Gazz in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This victory marked Creamline’s seventh straight Finals appearance and their 14th overall. Their last absence from the championship round came in the 2022 Reinforced Conference, where they settled for bronze.
The 10-time PVL champions are also guaranteed to extend their unbroken podium streak to 17 conferences.
(C) PVL Images
“Siyempre masaya ako na nakabalik kami sa Finals kahit natalo kami nung game 1 sa semifinals. Ngayon, may chance kami ma-defend yung crown ng Creamline, then makabawi doon sa Petro Gazz. Yun naman yung goal palagi, ma-defend yung crown,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
With Choco Mucho holding a 12-11 lead in the third set, the Cool Smashers turned up the intensity, ensuring no extension to the match.
Bernadeth Pons spearheaded Creamline’s offensive assault, leading a blistering 14-3 finishing kick to clinch the straight-set victory in just 82 minutes.
Kyle Negrito, Bea de Leon, Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, and Pangs Panaga all contributed to the decisive run, helping the Cool Smashers finish 2-1 in the round-robin semis, with their only loss coming against their upcoming Finals opponent, Petro Gazz.
The Angels won their semifinal match-up, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, while Creamline triumphed in their preliminary round encounter, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16.
“Very proud I think this is my first time again playing back to the Finals and every conference, iba-iba yung story namin kung paano kami makakapaso sa Finals, this one is another story that’s why we’re gonna write again another story this conference,” said Valdez, who registered 11 points and seven digs.
Two-time Best Setter Negrito efficiently distributed the ball, tallying 17 excellent sets, as Creamline’s offense proved too dynamic, with five players scoring at least nine points.
Pons led the Cool Smashers with 14 points, 16 receptions, and seven digs, while Carlos added 13 points. Panaga chipped in 10 points and De Leon contributed nine.
The middle blocker duo combined for seven of the team’s 10 blocks, which was seven more than Choco Mucho’s three.
Creamline also dominated in spiking, 47-25, while holding a 4-2 advantage in service aces.
(C) PVL Images
In an effort to keep the Flying Titans guessing, Choco Mucho attempted to spread the wealth, but their open spikers, Sisi Rondina and Royse Tubino, struggled with their attacks.
Rondina was limited to a 6-of-26 spike efficiency, while Tubino managed just 6-of-29. Both finished with only seven points, with Rondina also contributing 15 receptions and eight digs.
Isa Molde led Choco Mucho with nine points.
