Creamline became the first team to enter the finals after sweeping Chery Tiggo, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, in the round-robin semifinals of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This is the Cool Smashers’ seventh consecutive appearance in the All-Filipino Conference finals.
Creamline ended the semifinals with a 2-1 record armed with seven points – which proved enough for them to seal a spot in the best-of-three finale.
If Petro Gazz takes down Choco Mucho later in the night, they will trigger a three-way tie with the Flying Titans and the Cool Smashers.
The reigning champion will come out on top and bag the first finals slot due to superior points, relegating the Angels and Choco Mucho to a playoff.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
In the case of a Flying Titans win over Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho and Creamline – who will be tied at 2-1 – will advance to the finals.
Meanwhile, the Angels will then drop to 1-2 and will battle the Crossovers in the third-place series.
“Siyempre masaya kami at naka-finals kami ulit, pero hindi pa tapos yung trabaho. Ang target naman is ma-defend yung crown,” said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Magpe-prepare muna ulit kami kung sino ‘man yung makalaban namin. Happy kami at nakabalik kami sa finals.”
Tots Carlos continued to lead Creamline with 16 points on 11 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. Meanwhile, Alyssa Valdez fired 10 points, nine of which came from attacks, in the one-hour, 34-minute victory.
Jeanette Panaga chimed in with seven points on four blocks and three attacks, while Jema Galanza and Kyle Negrito chipped in with six points each.
Negrito also had 16 excellent sets to lead the offense.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
Meanwhile, the Crossovers are heading to the bronze medal series after going 0-3 in the semifinals.
Aby Marano and Eya Laure led the way for Chery Tiggo with eight points each, while Mylene Paat had seven markers.
The PVL All-Filipino Conference finals will begin on Thursday at the same venue.
