Creamline, Choco Mucho renew ‘uneve’ sibling rivalry
On paper, the rivalry between Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans has been one-sided, tilted heavily toward the league’s most decorated franchise.
Creamline has dominated most of its meaningful encounters with Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League, including two championship series victories that underscored the gap between the sister teams entering the 2025 season.
Yet when the two collide, those details stop mattering.
Their 6:30 p.m. matchup Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena will have the feel of a rivalry game being played on the deciding match of a title series. Because when the two sister teams collide, it’s not a question of which squad has accomplished more; it’s about two teams with the most passionate fan bases refusing to lose in front of their followers.
This time, the stakes are palpable.
Both teams are coming off uneven starts in the All-Filipino Conference, making the match a potential turning point. With league parity at a premium, an early loss could weigh as much on confidence as on the standings.
Creamline enters under unexpected pressure. After finishing 2025 without a title following its historic Grand Slam run, the Cool Smashers are facing the prospect of back-to-back defeats — a rarity that highlights how unforgiving the conference has become.
The roster, however, is close to full strength. Setter Jia De Guzman and wing spiker Jema Galanza have returned, Tots Carlos and Bea de Leon are healthy, and libero Jen Nierva provides stability as Creamline looks to reassert its identity.
Choco Mucho, meanwhile, sees opportunity.
The Flying Titans have retooled their lineup, led by the arrival of Eya Laure, giving the team more balance after seasons of leaning heavily on Sisi Rondina. With Dindin Manabat and Lorraine Pecaña showing early consistency and Rondina back at full strength, Choco Mucho enters believing it can finally reverse the trend against the league’s standard-bearer.
Meanwhile, in the earlier match that starts at 4 p.m., the Cignal HD Spikers face the Farm Fresh Foxies in a matchup that could also have an impact of how the early tournament picture will play out.
Cignal is off to one of its strongest starts in recent years, with coach Shaq delos Santos guiding the HD Spikers through a faster, precision-oriented system influenced by Japanese volleyball. Fresh from a training camp in Japan, Cignal is seeking a third straight win and solo possession of first place.
Farm Fresh, however, looms as a dangerous test. The Foxies are coming off a tough loss to Nxled but remain loaded with offensive options led by Trisha Tubu and Ces Molina, supported by newcomers Royse Tubino, Mylene Paat and Ara Galang.
