‘MVPons’-type of effort from Bernadeth has Cool Smashers knocking on Finals door
“MVPons” became synonymous with Bernadeth Pons after a stand out final year with Far Eastern University in 2018, where she, as the Queen Tamaraw, led her school to the UAAP Finals, posting stellar numbers despite not winning the top individual award.
That nickname was validated in the Premier Volleyball League when she captured MVP honors in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, shining against imports and powering the Creamline Cool Smashers to a title that sparked their historic grand slam run.
On Saturday night, “MVPons” was in full display when Creamline needed her most.
The do-it-all outside spiker exploded for 28 points to boost the Cool Smashers to a come-from-behind 22-25, 27-25, 19-25, 28-26, 15-10 win over top seeded PLDT before 12, 411 roaring fans at the Mall of Asia Arena as Creamline inched closer to the All-Filipino Conference finals on Saturday.
Killer blows
Those fans chanted “M-V-Pons! M-V-Pons! M-V-Pons!” shortly after she saved the Cool Smashers from the brink of defeat in the fourth set and nailed the telling blows in the fifth to finish with 21 kills, four blocks and three aces, while displaying superb floor defense with 22 excellent receptions and 16 digs.
The 33rd Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball gold medalist was grateful for the massive support she’s been receiving. But she’s not after winning another MVP; she wants Creamline to reclaim its lost glory after a title-less 2025.
“I’m really grateful and thankful to the fans who support me and the team,” Pons said in Filipino. “But our goal is always for the team, not individual awards. We’ll do everything we can to reach our goal this conference.”
Pons and the Cool Smashers will seal a return to the finals with a win over the Cignal Super Spikers on Tuesday at the same venue in Pasay City.
They are eager to bounce back against every team in the semifinals that beat them in the preliminaries. First to go were the High Speed Hitters, who swept them in the campaign opener.
The next hurdle
Next is Cignal, which sent them to the knockout Play-In after a heart-stopping five-set triumph in the qualifying round.
“We need to recover first. We know that if we recover well, we’ll perform better on Tuesday,” said Pons. “We’re really grateful for this opportunity because all the teams we’re facing now actually beat us in the preliminaries.
“This is our chance to bounce back. It won’t be easy, but we’ll work for it and bring it into the game on Tuesday,” said Pons.
Pons was backstopped by fellow former league MVP Jema Galanza, who sparked the bench with 17 points.
Galanza put a premium on taking care of themselves that will lead to all-out performances, as she only just returned this week from a minor knee injury.
“It’s about scoring points, winning and staying injury-free. In games like this, you really never know; it gets intense and the pressure is high,” Galanza said. “We’ll double our efforts in taking care of our bodies so that from the semis to the finals, we can truly go all out.”
