By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Creamline dug deep into its bag of tricks as it outhustled sister team Choco Mucho to carve out a pulsating 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11 victory and capture the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference title before a mammoth crowd Sunday night, May 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing in their 11th finals appearance before an energetic 23,162 fans, the Cool Smashers held their composure to detroy the Flying Titans’ determined stand and clinch their eighth crown in the league.
They won in Game 1, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16.
The triumph not only reaffirmed Creamline’s mastery over Choco Mucho — the same rival they beat also via sweep of the finals in the Second All-Filipino Conference — but cemented its status as the most successful squad of their era.
They almost missed the semifinals but pulled off one big win much to the delight of their supporters.
Its championship poise was evident in the pivotal fifth set when, after cruising to a 6-1 upperhand, held on to its lead following Choco Mucho’s last-ditch effort to extend the series into a rubber match.
Sisi Rondina and Royse Tubino kept the Flying Titans alive with their down-the-line spikes while Chery Nunag stepped up when needed most including a quick kill that trimmed their deficit to 12-11.
But then came Creamline’s surprise package in Bernadeth Pons and Bea De Leon.
Back-to-back points from Pons gave the Cool Smashers the matchpoint advantage, 14-11, before De Leon sealed the win with her own quick attack off an overset from Flying Titans’ Deanna Wong.
Jema Galanza, who was later on adjudged the Best Outside Spiker and the Finals Most Valuable Player, carried the cudgels for Creamline by firing 20 points — all coming from attacks, while Pons came off the bench to finish with 17 points.
“Nakita ko talaga sa mata ng mga teammates ko kung gano sila kagigil na gusto nilang maipanalo yung laro. Andito na kami eh, bakit pa kami susuko, kaya nilaban na namin hanggang dulo,” said Galanza.
Tots Carlos also provided ample support with 16 points highlighted by four blocks, while Pangs Panaga added 13 points including crucial attacks in the fourth set that extended the match into a deciding fifth frame.
Rondina tried to keep Choco Mucho alive by firing 31 points to no avail.
Tubino and Nunag also pumped in 20 and 14 points, while Maddie Madayag and Isa Molde added 10 points apiece for the Flying Titans, but the Cool Smashers were too much to handle.
Meanwhile, Creamline’s finals sweep allowed Petro Gazz to snare the bronze medal due to a superior points ratio despite losing to Chery Tiggo in Game 2, 16-25, 11-25, 25-13, 25-22, 18-16.
The Angels won Game 1, 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 15-12.
