They’re back
Creamline has battled its way to 15 Finals appearances in its franchise history.
It has never had to battle the way it did for this latest one.
Going through several knockout matches, the Cool Smashers weathered yet another do-or-die duel and hammered out a 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19 victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies in the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday at a packed FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
Dethroned in last year’s All-Filipino, just one of the crowns it surrendered after a historic Grand Slam season, Creamline needed to survive no-tomorrow duels just to make the semifinals—including a win over Akari that earned the Cool Smashers the last spot in the Final Four.
“We’re happy. Not every team gets to experience do-or-die games like this, so we just embrace the pressure. We’re blessed to come out on top,” coach Sherwin Meneses said.
Up next for the Cool Smashers is Cignal, the low-key, hard-fighting squad, which has used superb chemistry to reach the Finals.
Game 1 of the best-of-three title showdown is on Tuesday next week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“The real goal is to win the championship,” Meneses added. “That’s what we’ll keep working for so we can give our 100 percent in the finals. We’re just happy we’ve won all our do-or-die games so far.”
And judging by the way the matchup between the finalists has gone this conference, Creamline might need yet another sudden-death win to reclaim its crown.
Cignal has won two of the three meetings between the two clubs in this conference. Headlining the Super Spikers is the indefatigable trio of Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos and playmaker Gel Cayuna.
“Cignal really deserves to be in the finals,” Meneses said. “Their teamwork is great and their leaders—especially Cayuna—really deliver. We’ll give our 100 percent. Our chemistry and familiarity with Jia (de Guzman) will also help. We’re also blessed that the team is healthy now because we struggled with injuries earlier in the conference. Credit as well to our bench players for stepping up. We’ll definitely give Cignal a good fight.”
Experienced core
The Cool Smashers have enough motivation to give a good fight. The powerhouse franchise lost all the crowns it collected during its triple crown year in 2024 and wants to prove it hasn’t lost its dominant touch just yet, despite the rise of younger challengers.
“It’s been almost a year since we last made the finals. That’s how it is, there are ups and downs. What matters is how you bounce back. The trust within the team never left, even during the tough times last year. I’m just grateful the group is still intact and that we’re back in the finals,” said Meneses, a seven-time champion coach.
Against Farm Fresh, that intact crew came through.
Pangs Panaga put the finishing touches on it and finished with 13 points, including six blocks. Jema Galanza also scored 13. Tots Carlos unleashed 15 points and 14 digs, while Bernadeth Pons had 12 points, 17 digs and 17 excellent receptions. De Guzman dished out 26 excellent sets.
“I think Creamline’s core is really experienced. It’s a veteran team. We’re lucky that our core is still intact. Other teams are building and strengthening, but our group has stayed together and that’s our advantage—our chemistry. Of course, all teams are getting stronger, but our edge right now is that we’re complete and healthy,” Meneses said.
“We already know each other well, but with the four-day break, we can still find ways to improve and perform better in the finals. The job’s not done yet,” he said.
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