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Creamline captures ninth PVL crown at Akari’s expense

The Creamline Cool Smashers wins over the Akari Chargers in straight sets at the PVL Reinforced Conference finals in Pasig City on September 4, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) – The odds were stacked against them, yet they still prevailed.

Creamline has proven time and time again that it is the Premier Volleyball League’s winningest club for a reason.

The Cool Smashers, without star players Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez, captured their ninth PVL crown after dominating the Akari Chargers, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17, in the 2024 Reinforced Conference Finals on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

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Their last Reinforced title was actually six years ago, and it was widely perceived that Creamline’s “weakness” is the import-laced tourney. Michele Gumabao even admitted to this after the Akari match.

“[L]agi talaga ‘yung Reinforced Conference, parang sinasabi nila doon kami talaga nag-i-struggle,” Gumabao shared.

In the last two Reinforced Conferences, Creamline settled for third in 2022 and was the first runner-up in the 2019 edition.

Yet, they defied the odds this time.

READ: PVL: Creamline denies Petro Gazz’s three-peat bid, forges semis duel with Cignal

En route to the championship match, the Sherwin Meneses-mentored squad went on to sweep defending champions Petro Gazz Angels, who were the favorites to win the tilt.

READ: PVL: Creamline completes reverse sweep of Cignal for Finals berth

And in the semifinals, they completed a reverse sweep against Cignal, and part of that victory was overcoming a 21-24 separation against the HD Spikers, who were a point away in entering the Finals.

The Cool Smashers could not do this without the backing of rising star Bernadeth Pons and steady import Erica Staunton.

Pons has been in the supporting role for Creamline, taking a backseat before the abovementioned names in the previous conferences.

But when it needed the most, the 27-year-old outside spiker from Talisay, Negros Occidental stepped up big time, helping fill in the big shoes of Carlos, Galanza, and Valdez as she showed the way in both offense and defense for Creamline — that’s why she was eventually named Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Finals MVP.

READ: PVL: MVPons ‘fulfilled’ as she steps up in absence of key Creamline players

READ: #MVPons comes to fruition for Creamline’s star

They were mentally prepared by the coaching staff to play this tournament without the power trio, bared Pons after the game.

“Actually, ni-ready kami nila coach mentally. Sabi niya lang, ‘ready kayo kung sino lang andito, ‘yun muna, ‘wag namin hanapin kung sino ‘yung wala.’ ‘Yun lang din every day sa training kung sino nandyan, ‘yun lang din nagtatrabaho,” said Pons.

READ: PVL: Will Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos play for Creamline in the next round?

And in the most important stage of all, the ‘MVPons’ did not disappoint, leading all scorers with 19 points on 14 attacks and five service aces to go along with 13 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs.

Staunton was also there for the offense, tallying 13 points while playmaker Kyle Negrito enabled the spiking with 17 excellent sets.

The American wing spiker, after the match, highlighted Creamline’s journey of maybe starting on the wrong footing, but finishing with the gold.

“Honestly, I think that we kind of had the mindset of just one game at a time, one set at a time, one point at a time. Especially since we started out this conference with a loss, which wasn’t ideal but I think it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and I think that we finished very strong,” she said.

Pons acknowledged the hardships they experienced in this competition. Still, as expected, she was very happy with the outcome.

“Sobrang happy kasi hindi madali, hindi madali ‘yung conference na ito. Sobrang pahirapan din talaga bawat game, pero sobrang trinabaho namin every day sa training pa lang. Sobrang ginusto namin na makuha itong championship na ito,” said Pons.

“And sobrang saya kasi first Reinforced Conference ko rin ito with Creamline so I’m so happy,” the double MVP added.

Reinforcement Oly Okaro was the only Akari player in twin-digit scoring with 14 points, while Grethcel Soltones added nine markers.

Ivy Lacsina, who was in MVP talks after a strong showing this conference, only delivered four points in the loss.

READ: PVL: Gumabao, Meneses all praises for Staunton’s leadership

Akari saw its perfect record get blemished by the Cool Smashers after going 10-0 up until the semifinals against PLDT.

The one-game championship showdown was originally scheduled on Monday, September 2, but was moved due to heavy rains brought by tropical storm Enteng.

READ: PVL Finals moved to Wednesday, September 4, due to Enteng

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