Several of the key figures behind Creamline’s undefeated streak against Choco Mucho. | Art by Mitzi Solano/One Sports | Photos (c) RM Chua/One Sports
12-0
That’s the scoreline that defines the rivalry between the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the Premier Volleyball League. It’s a scoreline that has become a symbol of Creamline’s dominance and Choco Mucho’s ongoing struggle to break the curse.
These two Rebisco-backed sister teams share a common heritage but not a common destiny, at least not in the head-to-head record.
Since the inception of the Flying Titans in 2019, they have never defeated their multi-time champion stablemates in an official match. Twelve times they have faced off, and twelve times the Cool Smashers emerged victorious.
As the rivalry between the two continues, fans are left wondering – can Choco Mucho finally turn the tables, or will Creamline keep extending its reign of dominance?
Let’s take a look back at how the Cool Smashers’ supremacy over the Flying Titans began.
August 31, 2019 (1st round of 2019 PVL Open Conference)
It all started in the first round of the double-round robin preliminaries of the 2019 PVL Open Conference, where Creamline defeated Choco Mucho in four sets, 25-12, 25-22, 19-25, 25-18.
The decorated duo of Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado-De Guzman anchored for the Cool Smashers, as the former poured a triple-double of 25 points, 12 digs, and 11 receptions, while the latter churned out 28 excellent sets on top of four points, all coming from the service area.
Kat Tolentino stood her ground for Choco Mucho with 20 points built on 14 attacks, five blocks, and an ace while receiving support from Maddie Madayag, who had 13 markers, but Creamline proved too much.
October 5, 2019 (2nd round of 2019 PVL Open Conference)
In their second round encounter, the Cool Smashers pulled off their first straight-set victory over the Flying Titans, carving out a resounding 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 decision in Iloilo City.
Jema Galanza, the eventual league MVP, showed the way with 16 points, while Michele Gumabao made her presence felt with 12 of her own.
At that time, Valdez and Morado-De Guzman were balancing their roles with Creamline and the Philippine women’s national volleyball team due to the ASEAN Grand Prix. Still, the two saw action, as Valdez scattered nine points, nine digs, and eight receptions, while Morado-De Guzman fanned 13 excellent sets.
No Choco Mucho player breached double figures, with Shannen Palec and Tolentino scoring nine and eight markers, respectively.
August 4, 2021 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2021 PVL Open Conference)
Inside the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble where the league resumed its operations amid the COVID-19 situation, Creamline and Choco Mucho went the distance for the first time.
But in the end, the Cool Smashers still prevailed, staging a spirited comeback from a set down to repulse the Flying Titans, 18-25, 25-9, 21-25, 25-18, 15-6, in the 2021 PVL Open Conference.
The reliable duo of Valdez and Gumabao came through, as Valdez flaunted her all-around brilliance with 22 points, 23 digs, and 12 receptions, while Gumabao supplemented her with 19 markers and 16 digs.
Back then, Tots Carlos was still coming off the bench, being one of the three new additions to the team. Still, she made a significant impact with a double-double effort of 16 points and 12 receptions.
The thrilling clash also staged a high-level battle between setters, with Morado-De Guzman churning out 37 excellent sets and Deanna Wong holding her own with 33. Wong, who was in her first conference with Choco Mucho, also collected 20 digs to her name.
The Flying Titans had three twin-digit scorers, as Tolentino delivered 16 points, while Madayag and Pauline Gaston managed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, in a losing cause.
April 1, 2022 (Game 1 of 2022 PVL Open Conference semifinals)
In their first postseason encounter, Creamline had a sluggish performance but more than made up for it with sheer firepower, dispatching Choco Mucho, 25-18, 17-25, 25-19, 25-11, in Game 1 of the 2022 Open Conference semifinals.
The Cool Smashers coughed out 30 errors but nevertheless dominated the scoring departments, putting up a 58-33 spiking differential, 10-7 blocking disparity, and 9-3 ace gap.
Carlos, who earned her first league MVP during that conference, carried the cudgels for Creamline as she fired 26 points. Valdez provided stability with 17 points and 13 digs, while Ced Domingo pitched in 12 markers.
Morado-De Guzman was as reliable as ever with 32 excellent sets, but this time around Wong had the edge in the playmaking department with 35 excellent sets.
Still, the Flying Titans could not keep up with the Cool Smashers, as Tolentino was the lone double-digit scorer on the losing side with 13 points.
April 3, 2022 (Game 2 of 2022 PVL Open Conference semifinals)
It was a similar story in Game 2 of the 2022 Open Conference semifinals, as Creamline overcame an error-prone showing to dash the title hopes of Choco Mucho in four sets, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15.
The Cool Smashers surrendered almost a full set of errors with 23 to the Flying Titans, who only committed 14. But Carlos was there once again to save the day, as she pummeled 23 points.
Galanza provided ample support with 18 markers and 15 digs, while Valdez chipped in 17 points. Morado-De Guzman orchestrated the offense with 27 excellent sets.
Wong continued to keep in step with the multi-time Best Setter, churning out 25 excellent sets, but the Flying Titans still lacked firepower with Tolentino and Des Cheng emerging as the only double-digit scorers for the losing side with 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
The Cool Smashers went on to win the championship series against the Petro Gazz Angels, capturing their fourth league title.
July 23, 2022 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2022 PVL Invitational Conference)
The sister teams only faced off once in the 2022 PVL Invitational Conference, and it turned out to be a one-sided affair.
Creamline pounced on a severely shorthanded Choco Mucho side, carving out a resounding sweep, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22.
Carlos spearheaded the Creamline thrust with 25 points, as Galanza added 10 markers as the only other double-digit scorer in the team.
The Flying Titans only had nine available players during that match, with Tolentino, Cheng, and Aduke Ogunsanya all sidelined due to health concerns. Caitlin Viray paced the losing side with 12 points.
November 17, 2022 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference)
Creamline and Choco also locked horns just once in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference, but this time around it was a much closer encounter.
The Cool Smashers bucked a lethargic start and hung tough down the stretch to withstand the Flying Titans in four sets, 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, 28-26.
With Creamline import Yeliz Basa hampered by a shoulder injury and Choco Mucho reinforcement Odina Aliyeva missing action due to health and safety protocols, Carlos and Tolentino stepped up to the plate and put on a show.
Carlos dropped 25 points, 18 receptions, and 16 digs, negating the 24-point output of Tolentino.
February 14, 2023 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference)
On a Valentine’s Day encounter, Creamline shattered the heart of Choco Mucho anew after serving up a straight-set nightmare, 25-18, 25-13, 25-14, in the 2023 All-Filipino Conference.
The usual Creamline leading scorers did not need to take charge as the troika of Gumabao, Domingo, and Galanza showed the way with 15 points apiece.
Morado-De Guzman delivered the goods with 25 excellent sets for the Cool Smashers, who stamped their class over the Flying Titans in one of their most lopsided affairs.
October 15, 2023 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference)
Come the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, two prominent figures in the local beach volleyball circuit joined the rivalry, with Sisi Rondina signing with Choco Mucho and Bernadeth Pons coming to Creamline.
Having played as teammates in the Philippine national women’s beach volleyball team, Rondina and Pons were thrust into the sister team rivalry as opponents.
The two went at each other when Creamline took on Choco Mucho. But as the dust settled, Pons had the last laugh as the Cool Smashers grounded the Flying Titans in four sets, 25-18, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21.
Pons nailed 22 points, outperforming Rondina, the eventual conference MVP who saw her 21 points go down the drain.
December 14, 2023 (Game 1 of 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference Finals)
The once-brewing rivalry of Creamline and Choco Mucho turned into full-fledged competition late in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.
This, after the Rondina-led Flying Titans emerged as the top challenger to the throne of the Cool Smashers.
In Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series, both teams split the first and second sets before Creamline banked on its experience and mettle to fend off the challenge of Choco Mucho, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22.
Carlos made her presence felt on offense with 16 points, while Galanza flirted with a near triple-double of 16 markers, 13 digs, and eight receptions.
On the other end, Madayag was a tower of power with seven blocks on her way to 18 points that went for naught. Rondina poured 17 markers and 19 receptions, while Tolentino put up 16 points in the losing cause.
December 16, 2023 (Game 2 of 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference Finals)
If this sister team rivalry were a movie franchise, then Game 2 of the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference Finals would be the most iconic installment. It was a true blockbuster by any measure.
With the championship at stake and a record-breaking crowd of 24,459 spectators in attendance at the fabled Smart Araneta Coliseum, Creamline and Choco Mucho put on a breathtaking show that went the distance.
In the end, the Cool Smashers reaffirmed their superiority, edging out the Flying Titans in a cardiac five-set battle, 22-25, 25-20, 29-27, 24-26, 15-12.
Carlos took home the Finals MVP with 26 points, while Galanza almost notched a triple-double of 21 points, 20 receptions, and nine digs.
Rondina went down swinging with 33 points, on top of nine receptions and seven digs.
April 18, 2024 (Single round-robin preliminaries of 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference)
After two intense clashes in the previous Finals, almost everyone expected a slugfest in their latest encounter in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Instead, the highly-anticipated bout turned into a one-sided beatdown as Creamline ran roughshod over Choco Mucho in straight sets, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19.
Though the stakes were not as high as the titular series, the game held significant importance as the win allowed the Cool Smashers to solidify their position inside the Final Four frame.
It also marked the first Bea de Leon and Denden Lazaro-Revilla faced off against Choco Mucho, as the former delivered nine points while the latter collected 17 receptions.
As both teams head into the round-robin semifinals, the fourth-seeded Cool Smashers are on a collision course with second-ranked Flying Titans on Tuesday, April 30.
And so the question is asked again – can Choco Mucho finally turn the tables, or will Creamline keep extending its reign of dominance?
