CITY OF SANTIAGO — Defending champion Creamline continued its relentless march through the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab series, overpowering Capital1, 25-18, 31-29, 25-16, to seize the solo lead on Thursday at the Santiago Sports Arena here.
The Cool Smashers stretched their winning streak to four games, improving to a league-best 4-0 record and breaking away from Nxled, which slipped to second place at 3-0.
Creamline once again showcased its offensive depth, with Kyle Negrito orchestrating the attack and dishing out 16 excellent sets as 12 different Cool Smashers scored at least two points.
“Based sa game ngayon, ang nangyari talaga is totally team effort,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Napakaganda ng nangyari, especially nung second set medyo ‘yung situation, bumilis ‘yung momentum sa kabila. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ang mahalaga maka-recover tayo dun sa second set. Naging magandang experience sa’min, then third set nagtuloy-tuloy na,” he added.
(C) PVL Images
Negrito was instrumental in steering the Cool Smashers through a tense second-set battle after the Solar Spikers clawed their way back from a 10-point hole to put the 11-time champions in danger of losing the frame.
Creamline had five opportunities to finish the set but failed to convert until Negrito delivered a timely dump to catch Capital1 off guard and give her side another chance to close it out.
The Cool Smashers finally sealed the frame on its sixth attempt when the Solar Spikers failed to control an overpass. Ezra Madrigal managed only a soft quick, leaving the ball within reach of Jema Galanza, who capitalized with a powerful attack to give Creamline a 2-0 lead.
The Cool Smashers rode that momentum in the third frame, where they dominated Capital1 en route to the one-hour, 37-minute win.
Galanza punched in a game-high 16 points on 14 attacks and two kill blocks for Creamline to go along with 11 excellent receptions, while Bernadeth Pons added 11 points, all from attacks, off the bench along with eight excellent digs.
Team captain Alyssa Valdez added seven markers, while Pangs Panaga and Tots Carlos contributed six and five points, respectively.
The Cool Smashers look to keep their unbeaten run intact when it returns to action against a resurgent PLDT on November 5 at 6 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Capital1 absorbed its second consecutive defeat to fall to a 2-3 record, dropping to seventh place as the race for the semifinals continues to tighten.
Bella Belen scored 13 points and added nine excellent digs to lead the Solar Spikers.
Vanie Gandler added 10 markers and 13 excellent receptions, while Cherry Nunag finished with nine markers in the loss.
Capital1 aims to bounce back against unbeaten Nxled on November 7 at 1 p.m., also at the Philsports Arena.
