The Creamline Cool Smashers delivered a dominant performance, sweeping Chery Tiggo 25-10, 27-25, 25-21 before a packed crowd at Philsports Arena on Tuesday, March 18. With the win, Creamline moved closer to securing a spot in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference semifinals.

From a dominant first set to a stunning comeback in the second, the Cool Smashers proved why they remain a championship contender.

Valdez leads the charge

Alyssa Valdez led Creamline with 16 points, 13 digs, and nine receptions, earning best player of the game honors.

“Through our experiences in tight matches, we’ve been tested many times, and we’ve learned how to respond,” Valdez said. “Our trust in each other, especially in crunch time, is something special.”

The Cool Smashers faced their biggest challenge in set 2, trailing 18-22 before mounting a comeback to steal the frame in extended play.

With game 1 in the books, Creamline now shifts focus to game 2 on Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo, where they aim to complete a best-of-three quarterfinals sweep.

All-around team effort

While Valdez led the charge, Tots Carlos stepped up late, finishing with 13 points, including key off-the-block hits that helped seal the win.

Middle blockers Bea de Leon and Pangs Panaga provided defensive stability, tallying 11 and 10 points, respectively, with five blocks each. Meanwhile, Kyle Negrito orchestrated the offense with 20 excellent sets, twice as many as Chery Tiggo’s Alina Bicar.

Chery Tiggo struggles

On the other side, Shaya Adorador led Chery Tiggo with 10 points, but the Crossovers struggled to generate consistent offense. Ara Galang, usually a key contributor, managed only five points, while Cess Robles and Pauline Gaston chipped in seven each.

Despite keeping the third set close, the Crossovers faltered late, allowing Carlos and Valdez to take over.

Key stats

• Spikes Creamline 49 Chery Tiggo 35
• Blocks Creamline 10 Chery Tiggo 4
• Errors Creamline 10 Chery Tiggo 17

Coach Meneses’ 100th win

The victory marked a career milestone for Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses, earning his 100th win with the team.

“I am grateful for my players who continue to follow our system,” Meneses said. “Winning has always been Creamline’s goal.”

Looking ahead

With a one game lead in the best of three quarterfinals, the Cool Smashers are determined to close out the series and advance to the PVL semifinals.

“Getting game one is important, but the job is not done yet,” Valdez said. “We have to work even harder to prepare for game two.”

Creamline will look to complete the sweep against Chery Tiggo on Saturday, March 22, at Ynares Center in Antipolo as they continue their push toward another PVL championship run.