Creamline once again leaned on its championship pedigree when the pressure peaked, regrouping in the deciding frame to carve out a hard-earned 25-16, 22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-10 victory over Nxled in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, March 7. The Cool Smashers showed their trademark poise in crunch time, overcoming a resilient Chameleons side in a match that stretched more than two hours before a lively crowd at the FilOil Playtime Centre.

The Cool Smashers dominated the opening set but quickly found themselves drawn into a battle of adjustments as Nxled answered in the second frame. Creamline regained the upper hand in the third set, only for the Chameleons to surge back and force a deciding frame after taking the fourth in emphatic fashion.

The match became another marathon contest in the conference, with both teams trading momentum through long rallies and aggressive net play. Yet when the tension reached its highest point in the fifth set, Creamline’s experience and composure ultimately made the difference.

The victory stretched the Cool Smashers’ winning streak to five matches after dropping their opening game of the conference. More importantly, it allowed Creamline to seize solo second place in the standings while tightening its grip on a coveted Top Four berth heading toward the next phase of the tournament.

Nxled struggles to maintain early conference momentum

For Nxled, the defeat highlighted a troubling slide after what had been an encouraging start to its campaign. The Chameleons opened the conference with three straight victories but have since suffered four consecutive defeats.

The team generated significant buzz during the offseason after assembling a star-laden core from the championship-winning Petro Gazz Angels. That collection of talent raised expectations that Nxled could immediately challenge the league’s established contenders.

However, as the conference progressed, opponents began exploiting weaknesses in crucial moments of tight matches. The Chameleons have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled to maintain consistency when games reach decisive stretches.

As a result, Nxled now finds itself slipping in the standings while the race for the Top Four intensifies. What once looked like a promising push for a strong playoff position has suddenly turned into a fight to rediscover momentum.

Galanza delivers decisive blows in fifth-set takeover

Jema Galanza spearheaded Creamline’s attack and earned Best Player of the Game honors after firing 19 points while also producing 10 excellent receptions. Setter Jia De Guzman repeatedly turned to the high-flying outside hitter whenever the Cool Smashers needed stability in key sequences.

“Focus lang kami at nagtiyaga,” said Galanza after leading Creamline through several momentum-shifting exchanges. Her ability to convert crucial points helped steady the Cool Smashers whenever Nxled threatened to regain control.

The deciding set initially unfolded as another tense exchange with Nxled briefly taking a 2-1 edge. Creamline responded immediately with a four-point surge ignited by Tots Carlos, including a crucial block that swung the momentum firmly toward the Cool Smashers.

Nxled attempted to rally and trimmed the deficit to 8-10 after a well-placed tip from MJ Phillips. But Galanza quickly halted the momentum by scoring on a second attempt before hammering a powerful putaway off a costly Chameleons overpass.

Brooke Van Sickle, who carried Nxled offensively with a game-high 28 points, stumbled during a crucial stretch that allowed Creamline to widen its lead. The Cool Smashers capitalized on the opening and surged ahead 13-8 in the deciding frame.

Although Nxled managed to score in the next rally and followed it up with a block to briefly slow the surge, Creamline maintained control of the match. Galanza struck again from the middle before Bernadette Pons sealed the victory with a powerful blast set up by a clutch dig from libero Kyle Atienza.

Creamline’s depth also played a major role in securing the victory as several players stepped up offensively. Pons delivered 18 points while Tots Carlos contributed 16 markers to support Galanza’s scoring effort.

Pangs Panaga dominated at the net with 13 points highlighted by six emphatic blocks that repeatedly disrupted Nxled’s attack. Bea De Leon also added nine markers as the Cool Smashers displayed balance across their lineup.

For Nxled, Myla Pablo bounced back from a scoreless outing in her previous match by erupting for 22 points. MJ Phillips contributed 12 markers while Jonah Escamillan chipped in seven points for the Chameleons.

But when the match tightened in the closing stretch, the Chameleons struggled to keep pace with Creamline’s execution. The Cool Smashers relied on years of championship experience to deliver the decisive plays needed to finish the match.