Creamline leaned on its experience and composure to escape with a hard-fought five-set victory over Cignal, 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14, in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Saturday, March 21, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. The Cool Smashers held their nerve in a match filled with momentum swings to secure a place in the qualifying round.

The win allowed Creamline to finish the preliminaries with a 6-3 record, matching Cignal’s slate but settling at No. 3 due to points. It also set up another showdown between the two teams in the next phase. The tightly contested battle highlighted both teams’ resilience heading into the knockout stage.

Creamline survives late chaos behind veteran poise

Alyssa Valdez delivered a vintage performance, finishing with 22 points, 13 digs, and 13 receptions to lead Creamline. She stepped up in the absence of key teammates and provided stability in crucial stretches. Her all-around effort anchored the team in pressure moments.

Bea de Leon delivered the defining play, sealing the match with a crucial block on Jewel Encarnacion in the final rally. The decisive stop capped a tense fifth set where both teams traded points late. Creamline’s ability to execute in that moment proved decisive.

Tots Carlos, Dij Rodriguez, and Kyle Negrito played key roles in the comeback during the deciding set. After falling behind early, they sparked a turnaround that briefly put Creamline in control. Their contributions helped shift momentum at critical junctures.

Despite losing Jia de Guzman to injury in the fifth set, the Cool Smashers regrouped and found ways to stay composed. A surprise attack from Negrito during a broken play created another match point opportunity. Creamline capitalized shortly after to close out the match.

Cignal pushes Creamline to the brink in gritty duel

Cignal showed resilience, forcing a deciding set after dropping the first two frames. Vanie Gandler and Encarnacion led a strong response that extended the match. Their offensive push kept the Super Spikers within reach throughout the contest.

The Super Spikers erased multiple match points in the fourth set to stay alive. They capitalized on key rallies and defensive stops to force a fifth set. The extended exchanges underscored their determination to challenge Creamline.

Gandler finished with 26 points, while Erika Santos added 16 in support. Their combined effort kept Cignal competitive until the final moments. However, the team fell just short in the closing exchanges of the decider.

Creamline’s steadiness ultimately made the difference in the final set. The Cool Smashers executed better in key plays and avoided costly errors late. The result secured their progression while denying Cignal a higher seeding.