Thailand has reigned over Southeast Asia’s women’s volleyball scene for the past three decades, and EST Cola’s squad in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference showed exactly why.
At just 20 years old, Papatchaya Phontham delivered a sensational performance against tournament favorites Creamline, leading EST Cola to a 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25 victory on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Phontham, who was part of Thailand’s VNL team this year, unleashed 27 points on 24 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, while also coming up with 12 excellent digs to stun the Cool Smashers.
The victory handed Creamline its first loss of the tournament and pulled EST Cola level with the Cool Smashers at 3-1, with just one match day remaining in the preliminaries.
Phontham showed composure beyond her years, particularly when Creamline threatened to mount a comeback in the fourth set after trailing 8-16.
(C) PVL Images
“Personally, I don’t feel nervous or anything. I just feel like we play it point by point and stay in the game. It’s not really that the crowd noise pressures us, but the cheering does have an effect,” said the 5-foot-9 opposite spiker after the game.
“We try to keep control of the team more. From when the score was far apart until they came back and put pressure on us, it made our team feel the pressure too. But we just tried to stay okay, keep calm, calm the team down.”
Phontham also received plenty of support from her teammates, with Nannaphat Moonjakham adding 16 points and 15 excellent receptions, while Nirarach Srikuta chipped in 12 points and 15 receptions.
The victory puts the Thais in control of their own fortunes heading into the final preliminary-round match day on Sunday.
EST Cola will face 1-3 Ho Chi Minh City at 4 p.m., while Creamline will look to bounce back at 6:30 p.m. against PLDT. Farm Fresh and Nxled will open the day at 1 p.m.
The Thai squad has an average age of just 20, with both setters, Natnicha Saelao and Serah Ankomah, only 17 years old.
With the continuous development of its national program and standout players being given opportunities with the senior team at an early age, Thailand’s success is another testament to why it remains an elite force in Southeast Asia and across the continent.
That development has also helped Thailand reach a historic milestone, as the country secured its first-ever Olympic berth after winning the 2026 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship.
