Not even close
Creamline has made the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals nine straight times.
That collected experience turned into a vaunted weapon against a team that seemed to have its number in this year’s edition of the tournament.
Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons delivered all-around performances as the Cool Smashers blew past the Super Spikers, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, to inch closer to reclaiming supremacy in the All-Filipino in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals on Tuesday.
“[Our experience] is definitely an advantage because not everyone gets to be in that situation,” coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Creamline brought that finals experience with them.”
In front of 8,183 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Galanza had 17 points and an efficient defensive game of 13 excellent receptions out of 18 attempts, while Pons delivered 11 points, 15 digs, and five excellent receptions.
In the middle of all that was Jia De Guzman, perhaps the most experienced setter in the league today, who dished out 22 excellent sets on top of four points.
PLDT triumphs
Gunning for their 11th title after a title-less 2025, the most successful club in the league showed just how seamless its system runs when all the vital pieces are healthy and present, committing just 12 errors against Cignal’s 22.
“I’m very satisfied, if you break it down, that’s about four errors per set,” Meneses said. “Hopefully we can improve even more, but we’re happy with that. We’ll try to maintain it or even reduce it further.”
“Everyone wants to win; we were given that experience before, so we have to use it now. The past championships are done. This is a new one, and this is what we need to prepare for. That experience, especially handling pressure, really helps.”
Meneses, a seven-time champion, was satisfied with their strong series opener, attributing it to the chemistry they built since 2021, one that helped them get back at a close-knit Cignal unit that beat them twice in their past three outings.
“I think we executed well. The players’ chemistry keeps improving, especially with Jia just coming back,” the coach said. “It feels like everything is coming together at the right time here in the finals.”
Although it was a strong start, Meneses reminded his team that Game 2 on Thursday will be a different story when they go for a clincher.
“[The Game 1 win] doesn’t carry over. Game 2 is a new battle,” said Meneses. “So we’ll prepare again and take it one point at a time. Cignal has the same mindset.”
Cignal leaned on go-to scorer Vanie Gandler, who had 17 points and 10 receptions. Erika Santos chipped in 10 points but struggled with a 9-of-39 attacking clip.
Meanwhile, Savi Davison showed just how deternined she is to salvage whatever PLDT can from its crumbled title bid.
Tied at 10 in the deciding set, Davison saved her team from a collapse, scoring four of the last five points of the High Speed Hitters to finish with 33 and put PLDT on the cusp of the bronze medal after a 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 26-28, 15-11 escape of Farm Fresh in their own Game 1 in the earlier game.
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