Creamline makes finals return

Alta Sports7 days ago · 325 views

Photo: PVL

By Rachel Gonzales

Creamline returned to the finals for the ninth straight All-Filipino Conference after outlasting the gritty Farm Fresh, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, in a do-or-die semifinal of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Creamline, dethroned last year, secured a shot at redemption and will face the Cignal Super Spikers in a best-of-three title series starting Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Photo: PVL

The Cool Smashers advanced to their 15th finals appearance, ending a three-conference title drought after missing out on the PVL on Tour, Invitational, and Reinforced crowns last year.

It will be a rematch of the 2024 Invitational finals, where Creamline completed a grand slam in a winner-take-all five-set victory over Cignal.

Creamline nearly squandered a 19-14 lead in the third set as Mylene Paat sparked a 5-0 Farm Fresh run to force a tie. Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, and Jema Galanza steadied the Cool Smashers, pushing them to set point, 24-22.

Photo: PVL

Trisha Tubu saved one set point, but Tots Carlos delivered the finishing blow to seal a 2-1 advantage.

Pangs Panaga nailed the telling blows with a big block on Tubu and a quick attack for a 23-19 lead.

Two consecutive errors by Tubu sent the Cool Smashers to the finals.

Panaga finished with 13 points, highlighted by six blocks.

Carlos led the way with 15 points and 14 digs Galanza chipped in 13. Pons flaunted an all-around game with 12 points, 17 digs, and 17 excellent receptions.

Jia De Guzman orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets and scored five, as Jen Nierva had 23 excellent receptions out of 29 attempts.

Farm Fresh closed its breakthrough semifinal campaign with a 1-2 record and will face the PLDT for bronze, seeking its first podium finish.

Tubu had 21 points for Farm Fresh. Ces Molina delivered 19 points, 20 excellent receptions, and 15 digs. Royse Tubino had 12 points, 14 digs, and 13 excellent receptions, as Paat played her best game as a Foxy with 11.

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