Already shorthanded, Creamline battled through adversity, surviving the absence of Jia De Guzman in a nail-biting fifth set to overcome Cignal, 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14, and claim the final spot in the qualifying round of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Filoil Centre.
The Cool Smashers, already reeling without stars Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons, suffered another blow when De Guzman injured her right knee early in the fifth set and was forced to leave the game.
Still, the Rebisco-backed squad refused to back down. Alyssa Valdez, Dij Rodriguez, and Tots Carlos rose to the occasion, powering the team through a heart-stopping, dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Valdez delivered a vintage performance, recording a triple-double with 22 points, 13 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions, steering Creamline to a thrilling win — a fitting finale to the preliminaries.
Meanwhile, the seldom-used Rodriguez shone in the spotlight, turning in her best PVL performance with 19 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 12 excellent digs.
(C) PVL Images
“I’m very, very happy for everybody, and everybody actually stepped up today and made sure na ginagawa din talaga yung trabaho. Coming from a loss din from Farm Fresh, isa lang naman yung sinabi and ni-remind sa’min — nandito na kami, we really have to work with what we have and perfect yung term namin ngayon is perfect effort,” said the three-time league MVP.
“I think po lang din ako na pinagkatiwalaan ako ng coaches to fill in sa kung ano yung kulang sa team, kasi malaking kawalan talaga yung dalawa, to be honest. Kaya double, triple talaga ‘yung trabaho ko sa training pa lang,” added Rodriguez.
With momentum swinging in Cignal’s favor after taking the third and fourth sets, Creamline faced an uphill battle when De Guzman suffered a right knee injury following a dig attempt. That left the Super Spikers ahead 3-2 and the Cool Smashers without their ace playmaker.
Creamline, however, had players ready to step up. Valdez, Rodriguez, Carlos, and Jeanette Panaga orchestrated an 8-2 run that turned a 6-8 deficit into a 12-9 lead, leaving Cignal scrambling to respond.
Vanie Gandler, carrying the Super Spikers on her back, fueled a 4-1 surge to tie the score at 13-all, before Carlos and Encarnacion traded furious blows to lock it again at 14-all.
Kyle Negrito, stepping up in De Guzman’s absence, executed a smart 1-2 play that set up Bea De Leon’s decisive block on Encarnacion, sealing a grueling, hard-fought victory for the Cool Smashers after two hours and 25 minutes of relentless action.
“Alam mo, during the latter part of the game, parang more of… Ang nasa isip ko, honestly, would be, andito na kami. Ilalaban na namin. Kung saan kami abutin, doon, magpapasalamat kami kung saan kami abutin kay Lord,” Valdez said.
Carlos finished with 12 points, while Panaga and De Leon contributed 11 and nine points, respectively, providing crucial support to Valdez and Rodriguez. Meanwhile, De Guzman still recorded 24 excellent sets despite leaving early.
Creamline’s hard-fought victory also sealed Nxled’s fate, sending them to the play-in as the fifth seed and setting up a rematch against second-ranked Cignal in the qualifying round.
Top-ranked PLDT, meanwhile, prepares to face fourth-seeded Farm Fresh in a high-stakes showdown.
(C) PVL Images
On Cignal’s side, Gandler led the charge with 26 points on 20 attacks, five kill blocks, and an ace, along with 19 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions.
Erika Santos, who struggled early, still finished with 16 markers, while Encarnacion provided a massive spark off the bench with 10 points.
Dawn Catindig posted 30 excellent digs, and Gel Cayuna dished out 20 excellent sets, adding seven markers.
