The Creamline Cool Smashers closed their PVL Invitational campaign with authority, dismantling long-time rivals Chery Tiggo Crossovers in straight sets, 25-15, 25-13, 25-22, to capture the bronze medal Sunday, August 31, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Eager to prove they remain a cut above even outside the Finals stage, the Cool Smashers attacked with purpose from the opening serve. Veterans Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez fueled a relentless offense that overwhelmed Chery Tiggo and left little doubt about the outcome.

The victory extended Creamline’s astonishing record of 19 consecutive podium finishes in the PVL, a streak unmatched in the league’s history. It was also their fifth bronze medal to go with 10 championships, further underscoring the franchise’s consistency and pedigree. Only last month, they bagged third place in the PVL On Tour after dispatching Cignal in similar fashion.

For Chery Tiggo, the loss capped a frustrating campaign that saw them squander a 2-0 lead in the semifinals against Kobe Shinwa, costing them a shot at a Finals rematch with PLDT. The Crossovers settled for fourth.

Net Defense Turns the Tide

What made Creamline’s bronze-medal win stand out was not just their offense but a sharpened defensive presence at the net — a long-time weakness that turned into a decisive advantage. Pangs Panaga and Gumabao anchored a formidable wall, snuffing out Chery Tiggo’s wing spikers and breaking their rhythm throughout the match.

That edge was on full display in the second set. After taking a slim 11-8 lead, Creamline unleashed a blistering 10-4 run, sparked by Kyle Negrito’s serve that repeatedly threw Chery Tiggo out of system. Valdez punctuated the surge with a powerful kill, closing the set in just 23 minutes.

Chery Tiggo mounted one last stand in the third frame, briefly seizing momentum for a 10-8 advantage. But Creamline steadied behind a surprise spark from Lorie Bernardo and Rhea Villarete, who teamed up for a 7-4 counterattack that flipped the deficit into a lead.

The Crossovers tied the score at 22 after a late push from Ara Galang, only for Gumabao to slam the door shut. Off the bench and in rhythm, she delivered three straight points — a kill, a sharp angle hit, and a clean baseline strike — to seal the sweep and the bronze medal.