The Creamline Cool Smashers displayed their championship mettle and unmatched depth to fend off a determined Chery Tiggo Crossovers squad, securing a hard-fought 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 victory on Saturday, March 22, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

With the win, Creamline clinched its 17th consecutive PVL semifinal appearance and joined Choco Mucho and Akari in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Final Four. The last semis spot will be decided in a sudden-death match between Petro Gazz and ZUS Coffee on Tuesday, March 25.

Late Push Seals Semifinal Berth

Despite facing a 15-22 deficit in the fourth set, Chery Tiggo refused to back down, mounting a furious comeback led by Seth Rodriguez. Capitalizing on Creamline’s errors, the Crossovers pulled to 22-24, threatening to force a decider.

However, with the game on the line, Kyle Negrito delivered a perfect set to Bea de Leon, who executed a quick attack to clinch the win for Creamline.

“We trusted each other and worked hard to bring back our good vibes and energy after a slow start,” said de Leon, who tallied 14 points and five blocks, earning Best Player of the Game honors. “We believed in the system, and Coach Sherwin Meneses guided us through it.”

Bench Sparks Turnaround in Crucial Third Set

One of the defining moments came in the 37-minute third set, where Meneses turned to Jema Galanza and Michelle Gumabao off the bench.

With the set deadlocked at 19-all, Galanza broke Chery Tiggo’s momentum with a powerful through-the-block hit and a smart drop shot, sparking a 4-1 surge to give Creamline the edge at 23-21.

Chery Tiggo’s Cess Robles responded with a string of attacks, but Gumabao delivered the knockout blows—first with a forceful spike that bounced off a defender and then with a down-the-line winner past two blockers to claim the set.

It was a testament to Creamline’s depth and composure, proving why they remain one of the most dominant franchises in PVL history.

Cool Smashers’ Balanced Attack Prevails

Creamline’s well-rounded attack proved too much for Chery Tiggo, with Bernadeth Pons leading the charge with 18 points. Tots Carlos and de Leon each contributed 14, while Pangs Panaga added eight.

The Crossovers had their moments, with Rodriguez stepping up with 16 points and five blocks. Robles and Ara Galang added 14 and 11 points, respectively. However, Shaya Adorador struggled after cramps affected her play in the third set, finishing with just seven markers.

Creamline dominated the attacking battle, outscoring Chery Tiggo 56-47, though the Crossovers had the edge in blocking with 12 rejections to Creamline’s seven.

Negrito also outshined Alina Bicar in setting, tallying 25 excellent sets to Bicar’s 19.

Final Four Showdown Awaits

With their best-of-three series sweep of Chery Tiggo complete, the Cool Smashers now shift their focus to the semifinal round, where the stakes are even higher.

As they continue their hunt for another PVL championship, Creamline once again proved why they remain the gold standard in Philippine volleyball.