Creamline once again turned the Finals into familiar territory, while Cignal struggled to find comfort in a stage they are still trying to master.
The Cool Smashers dictated the pace from start to finish on Tuesday, overpowering the Super Spikers in straight sets, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, to draw first blood in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and move within one win of the title.
It was another composed performance from Creamline, now making its 15th Finals appearance overall and ninth straight in the All-Filipino Conference, as it consistently shut down every Cignal attempt to build momentum and stay within striking distance.
After weathering a tight opening set and taking firm control in the second, the Cool Smashers wasted no time pulling away in the third. They opened with a 5-0 run, which extended to 8-2 after a Jeanette Panaga block on Vanie Gandler, quickly establishing a gap that Cignal could not recover from.
Creamline now eyes a series-clinching win in Game 2 on Thursday, while Cignal will look to regroup and force a do-or-die Game 3.
