Setters a key factor as Creamline, Cignal start title clash
In a clash between two star-studded teams, execution could end up the key to success.
That means Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses and Cignal counterpart Shaq Delos Santos will rely on their playmakers—Jia De Guzman for the Cool Smashers and Gel Cayuna for the Super Spikers—when the PVL All-Filipino Conference title showdown begins on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The best-of-three affair fires off at 5:30 p.m., right after the 3 p.m. opener of the battle for bronze between PLDT and Farm Fresh.
De Guzman is returning to the biggest stage of the country’s pro volleyball league for the first time since the 2023 Invitational finals, when Creamline settled for a runner-up against Kurashiki Ablaze.
The eight-time league Best Setter played in Japan SV.League for the Denso AiryBees and, locally, focused on Alas Pilipinas for the past two years.
Now that she’s back, the seasoned playmaker knows her responsibility for the team bannered by Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Pangs Panaga and Bea De Leon.
“Both teams in the finals are very role-driven. There’s no single star; everyone has a role. We always talk about that when we study them,” said De Guzman.
“They worked hard to build their connection this season and we see that. On our end, we also believe we’re peaking at the right time and we want to take advantage of that.”
Cayuna, the league’s first-ever PVL Press Corps Season Best Setter and a four-time winner of the conference top playmaker trophy, embraces how crucial her role will be in their title dream.
And she’s out to redeem herself after runner-up finishes in Cignal’s first two finals appearances.
“Personally, I feel more composed now. I can regulate my emotions better and stay in control, especially in close games. I’ve learned how to overcome those moments and it gives me more confidence that I can help lead the team,” said Cayuna.
“There were a lot of tears [before]. We’ve reached the finals before but couldn’t win. So this time, whatever opportunity God gives us, we’ll grab it and work for it.”
Cayuna hopes to continue her magical run with Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos, Tin Tiamzon, Jackie Acuña, Rose Doria-Aquino and Dawn Catindig.
The Cool Smashers are out to complete a redemption tour after getting dethroned in last year’s All-Filipino, then missing the finals of the next three tournaments.
But it won’t be easy against the Super Spikers, who have been playing their best All-Filipino outing yet with their first finals appearance in the conference after runner-up finishes with imports in the 2022 Reinforced and 2024 Invitational tournaments
Second one
It will be the second time Creamline and Cignal collide in a championship, as they already clashed in the 2024 Invitational final, where the Cool Smashers completed an epic comeback behind Pons and American Erica Staunton to outlast the MJ Perez-led Super Spikers in five sets, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13 and clinch a historic grand slam last Sept. 12, 2024.
“Cignal really deserves to be in the finals. Their teamwork is great and their leader, especially Cayuna, really contributes a lot. We’re going to give our 100 percent. We’ll rely on our chemistry and our familiarity with Jia,” said Creamline coach Meneses.
“People always say Creamline has the advantage, but knowing Cignal, their core right now is really solid and their chemistry is strong. They’ve been together since last year. We’re thankful we have some advantages too, like the crowd and our chemistry.”
Creamline has won 14 of its 20 games against Cignal, with a couple of five-set heartbreaks. But Cignal has the number of the 10-time champion in this All-Filipino Conference, winning their qualifying-round match to book a semifinal berth before hammering out a finals-clinching win last Tuesday that dropped Creamline to a do-or-die situation.
“That really helps our confidence. It shows how much we invested in those games and the adjustments we made. It’s a big factor for us heading into Game 1,” said Cignal coach Delos Santos.
