Perhaps it’s their championship pedigree, the wealth of experience, or simply the aura of invincibility they bring to every match. Whatever the case, the four teams that marched into the PVL On Tour semifinals did so with authority – sweeping their quarterfinal rivals in clinical fashion.

In a tournament that began with unpredictability and early upsets, the quarterfinals restored order. The top-tier squads showed dominance, precision, and control, leaving no room for surprise results.

Negrito leads Cool Smashers’ dominant opener

The Creamline Cool Smashers, 10-time PVL champions and the gold standard in Philippine women’s volleyball, set the tone early against the Farm Fresh Foxies. They rattled off the first seven points and never looked back, sealing a 25-19, 25-19, 26-24 victory before a packed Philsports Arena crowd.

The third set brought drama as the Foxies, led by Trisha Tubu, rallied to save three match points and level the score at 24. Michele Gumabao’s rare error fueled the Farm Fresh faithful’s hopes, but the Cool Smashers quickly regained composure. Gumabao delivered a decisive kill, and Pangs Panaga’s net-clipping service ace sealed the sweep.

Setter Kyle Negrito was named Best Player of the Game after orchestrating 21 excellent sets, scoring six points, and firing five aces in a well-rounded performance. “Discipline in training and service targeting made the difference,” she said.

Experience prevails over youthful energy

Gumabao led Creamline with 15 points, while Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. Panaga added seven markers in the team’s balanced offense. Creamline edged Farm Fresh in attacks (38-35) and outclassed them in service aces (10-4), with Negrito’s serving pressure proving crucial.

Tubu finished with a game-high 20 points for the Foxies, including three straight aces in the first set. Caitlin Viray contributed nine, and Rizza Cruz scored six, but their late rallies fell short against Creamline’s poise.

Coach Sherwin Meneses praised his team’s collective focus, noting that all PVL teams are competitive and that attention to detail is key. With the win, Creamline secured an unprecedented 18th Final 4 appearance and set up a high-stakes semifinal clash with PLDT.