FINAL RECKONING

Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle (right) will be the target of Creamline’s defense. —PVL IMAGES

The routes Creamline and Petro Gazz took in the PVL All-Filipino Conference couldn’t have been more divergent.

Yet here they are near the end of the tournament, their paths on a collision course.

And when Creamline and Petro Gazz kick off their best-of-three title showdown on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, it feels like this clash was inevitable.

“Both are veteran teams, so it will all boil down to mental toughness,” said Tots Carlos, one of two Creamline standouts who have won conference MVPs three times.

The other one is Alyssa Valdez, who also understands that with both teams’ talent depth and battle-tested systems, it will take intangibles to decide the battle for the crown.

“Whichever team pours its heart out will gain advantage in the series,” Valdez said.

Carlos and Valdez seem to have an edge in teammates. Creamline is teeming with championship-forged talent, with the likes of Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga and Bea de Leon all responding to Kyle Negrito’s underrated yet masterful playmaking.

The Cool Smashers are also 10-time champions and have ruled the last four conferences.

But it would be disastrous to treat the Angels lightly.

Petro Gazz has defeated Creamline in a title series already, during the 2019 Reinforced Conference. And the Angels won that crown, one of two import-laden titles they own, without Brooke Van Sickle, the powerful hitter who has been a main source of scoring for the team.

“This conference is different. We just keep on pushing each other the whole time, non-stop, spreading words of affirmation and helping each other. Everybody wants to win,” said Van Sickle, who has yet to win a title with Petro Gazz.

The Filipino American star will share the spotlight with the likes of Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, MJ Phillips and Ranya Musa. The Angels will flaunt two of the more seasoned setters in the league, Djanel Cheng and Chie Saet.

Petro Gazz is doubly motivated, having never won a title without an import. The Angels had been foiled in their all-Filipino title bids thrice before.

Eyes on Van Sickle

Van Sickle personifies that motivation. She tearfully admitted during a team-building session that there is nothing more important to her than winning a title with the Angels.

“This final is really for Brooke. She was exceptional at the past two conferences. We won’t let this (championship) slip away from us,” said Pablo.

Creamline is aware of that.

“Definitely, Creamline will be giving its all in the finals. We’ll work harder and be smarter,” said Valdez.

And the Cool Smashers know that working smart means putting a lot of defensive heat on Van Sickle.

“For sure, she will show up with her best performance every game. If we do our job, chances are we can slow her down,” said Carlos.

The two teams split their matches this conference, with the Cool Smashers getting the better of the Angels in the elimination phase before the latter defeated Creamline in four sets during the semifinals last week.

“Both teams are evenly matched … But I believe somehow Creamline has the advantage because of long-term chemistry,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.

“Petro Gazz is always there with an intact lineup. This will be a great fight, we are Creamline and we don’t allow ourselves to be easily beaten,” he added.