Creamline is once again on the brink of championship glory, as they fought back in Game 2 to level the best-of-three Finals series with Petro Gazz at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, April 10. The Cool Smashers won the match 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9, in front of a boisterous crowd of 11,058 fans, keeping their All-Filipino crown hopes alive.

The thrilling encounter featured several momentum shifts, with Bernadeth Pons emerging as the hero. Pons delivered a critical 3-1 run that helped Creamline gain an 8-6 lead after a tense 5-all tie in the deciding set. She was instrumental, scoring all three points with a mix of powerful hits and tactical plays.

Despite Myla Pablo’s best efforts to keep the Angels in the game, an attack error by the star player and a follow-up point by Pangs Panaga ensured that the Cool Smashers maintained their lead. A dominant 5-1 run in the final moments of the match sealed the victory for Creamline, sending the crowd into a frenzy and setting the stage for a winner-takes-all Game 3.

“Puso ng kampeon,” said Pons after being named Best Player of the Game, with 22 points in the two-hour, 14-minute match. In addition to her offensive output, she contributed significantly on defense with 12 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.

Pons expressed the team’s resolve, saying, “Sobrang saya. Ang ganda ng laro ng team at ginawa lang namin ung reminder na ‘huwag titigil hanggat di natatapos. Kahit nakuhanan kami ng set, kahit nalamangan kami, andun pa din kami – laban pa rin.”

Despite their first loss in six straight victories since the quarterfinals, Petro Gazz remains in the hunt for the championship. The Angels are determined to bounce back, with Game 3 set for tomorrow, at 7 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.

In the tightly contested match, Jema Galanza also made an impact early on, finishing with 13 points, while Panaga and Michele Gumabao chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Creamline outgunned the Angels in attacks with a slight edge, 55-53, and delivered 10 aces compared to Petro Gazz’s seven.

Both teams were evenly matched at the net with 10 kill blocks each, but Creamline’s composed and firepower-packed offense proved to be the difference in the closing moments.

On the Petro Gazz side, Brooke Van Sickle led with 18 points, while MJ Phillips and Jonah Sabete added 15 and 14 points, respectively. Myla Pablo also contributed 11 points in a balanced scoring effort. Despite a solid offensive showing, Petro Gazz faltered in key moments, allowing Creamline to close out the game.

After a dominant Game 2 performance, Creamline is now one match away from the title. However, with Petro Gazz eager to end the series with a strong performance in Game 3, fans can expect an intense and dramatic finale to this exciting championship series.