Creamline had every chance to unravel Monday night, and for one erratic set, it looked like they might. Instead, the Cool Smashers steadied themselves right when it mattered most.

The two-time Invitational champions ground past a stubborn Nxled squad, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, to join PLDT atop the early standings in the PVL Invitational at Araneta Coliseum. It wasn’t the clean finish Creamline wanted, but it revealed the kind of composure that separates contenders from champions.

Cool Smashers Weather Nxled’s Third-Set Surge

Nxled found new life in the third set, capitalizing on a string of uncharacteristic Creamline errors. The Chameleons carried that momentum into the fourth, threatening to force a decisive fifth set against the tournament favorites.

But Creamline had too much experience to let one shaky set define the match. The Cool Smashers regrouped and tightened their execution, turning the fourth set into a fresh test of nerve and timing.

Nxled stayed within striking distance at 17-20, keeping the pressure on deep into the set. That resistance only made the eventual finish sweeter once Creamline found its rhythm again.

Carlos, Galanza, Valdez Lead Late-Match Surge

Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez took over down the stretch, combining for the points that finally broke Nxled’s resistance. Galanza’s back-to-back attacks built a 20-17 cushion, and Carlos followed with three straight points to stretch it to 23-20.

Valdez sealed the sequence with an off-speed shot after her initial power attempt was dug. Nxled cracked soon after when Jonah Escamillan’s attack sailed wide, handing Creamline match point.

A brief Nxled challenge on the final block call delayed the celebration, but replay confirmed the call and locked in the win. Setter Kyle Negrito was the steady hand behind it all, finishing with 31 excellent sets.

Her best feed came in the scramble that set up Carlos for the clinching point. “We just kept working. We took it one point at a time,” Negrito said in Filipino, crediting the team’s refusal to let Nxled dictate the outcome.

Sachi Minowa, formerly known as Jaja Santiago, led all scorers with 19 points in her official return to the league. The 6-foot-5 Japanese standout punished Nxled at the net with quick, heavy attacks off Negrito’s sets.

Galanza, Carlos and Valdez chipped in 17, 14 and 13 points, respectively, giving Creamline four scorers in double figures. Escamillan led Nxled with 20 points despite the costly final miss, while EJ Cariño and MJ Phillips added 18 and 11.