HISTORIC GRANDSLAM CHAMPION! Pons BINUHAT ang CCS! Tapatan PEREZ AT PONS?? Cignal Na Choke! MG, MVP!

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LIVE UPDATES: PVL Invitationals Final–Creamline vs Cignal

Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate their latest championship–the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference crown. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER;net

MANILA, Philippines–Creamline just became a 10-time PVL champion in a span of a week.

The Cool Smashers outlasted Cignal, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, to clinch the Invitational Conference and a first-ever league Grand Slam on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Prior to this, Creamline had also won the All-Filipino Conference earlier this year and the Reinforced championship just a week ago.

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Michele Gumabao is the PVL Invitational MVP. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline Cool Smashers’ Michele Gumabao won her first ever PVL MVP award after emerging as the top player of the 2024 Invitational Conference.

 

Gumabao on Thursday became the latest Cool Smasher to win the MVP trophy, joining three-time winners Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos, 2019 Open Conference MVP Jema Galanza, and last week’s Reinforced top player Bernadeth Pons.

The Cool Smashers also completed a Grand Slam after withstanding Cignal in five sets in the Invitationals final, just a week after claiming the Reinforced crown.

 

 

PVL Invitational championship: Cignal vs Creamline

 

 

 

 

 

Jema Galanza brings Creamline at championship point, 14-11.
Perez attack error. Creamline with a 13-11 lead.
MJ Perez blocks Staunton. Cignal within one, 12-11.
A lucky point for Kyla Atienza! Creamline feelin it with a 12-9 lead.
Staunton gives Creamline an 11-8 lead in the fifth set, four points from another title.
Ces Molina cuts down Creamline lead to one then ties it at 7-7.
Bernadeth Pons leads Creamline to a 6-3 start in the fifth set.

 

END OF SET 4: Creamline 26, Cignal 24
Ri Meneses forces a deuce for Cignal, 24-24.
Staunton brings Creamline at set point, 24-22. Basas then saves a point for Cignal, 24-23.
Staunton blocks Molina. Creamline with the 23-22 lead.
Game is tied at 22 all.
MJ Perez gives Cignal the lead, 19-18, but Staunton and Pons bring it back to Creamline and extend it 21-19.
MJ Perez ties the set Cignal at 18.
Pons gives Creamline an 18-15 breather in the fourth.
Basas blocks Galanza! Cignal just within two, 13-11.
10-6 start for Creamline in the fourth after Bea De Leon’s hit.
END OF SET 3: Cignal 25, Creamline 20. The HD Spikers take a 2-1 lead, inching a set closer to their maiden PVL title.
Acuña with a quick! Cignal leads Creamline, 15-7, in the third.
7-3 start for Cignal in the third set.
END OF SET 2: Creamline 25, Cignal 17. The Cool Smashers equalize the championship to one set apiece with a 9-2 finish in the second
Pons widens the lead for Creamline, 19-15, in the second set.
Creamline leads the second set with a 16-12 advantage.
END OF SET 1: Cignal 25, Creamline 21.
Riri wins the joust for Cignal’s 22-18 lead.
MJ Perez sends the opening set to the second technical timeout with a 16-14 lead for Cignal.
Pons cuts it down to one. Creamline trails, 14-13.
MJ Perez ace! Cignal leads the opening set, 8-7.

 

 

 

Kurashiki Ablaze during the PVL Invitational Conference battle for bronze against Est Cola. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Kurashiki may not have defended its crown in the PVL Invitational Conference but it still landed a podium finish after blanking co-guest team Est Cola, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20, on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Est Cola is a very young team and I feel like we grew up during this league so we are happy to still win,” coach Suzuki Hideo said through a translator.

The Ablaze were demoted to the battle for third by Cignal, which is vying for all the glory against Creamline as of posting, after a 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11 loss Wednesday night.

Battle for bronze: Est Cola vs Kurashiki Ablaze

 

FINAL: Kurashiki Ablaze ends their #PVL2024 Invitational Conference stint with a bronze medal after beating Est Cola, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20.

END OF SET 2: Kurashiki 26, Est Cola 24. The Ablaze survive a tough challenge in the second to inch a set closer to the bronze with a 2-0 lead.
END OF SET 1: Kurashiki 25, Est Cola 22

Creamline hopes to celebrate a rare Grand Slam this season. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Creamline’s date with destiny gets an answer on Thursday when the Cool Smashers try to complete what would just be the first Grand Slam in Premier Volleyball League (PVL) history.

Or, it can also be that the Cool Smashers will fail to achieve that for the third time in their glorious history.

No team has even come close to completing a season sweep, but Creamline has been able to do it in each of the last two seasons, only to falter in the last conference

Cignal HD Spikers’ MJ Perez and Riri Meneses during the PVL Invitational Conference. They face Creamline Cool Smashers in the final. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — MJ Perez and the Cignal HD Spikers have a shot at redemption against their tormentors, Creamline Cool Smashers, in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference final on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Perez brought back Cignal to the PVL finals for the first time in two years after dethroning Kurashiki Ablaze, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11, on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Cignal has a chance to win its breakthrough PVL title against the Grand Slam-seeking Creamline at 6 p.m.

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jema Galanza returns for the PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Better late than never for returning spiker Jema Galanza as she is eager to help complete Creamline’s historic Grand Slam in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference Final on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After missing the team’s title run in the Reinforced and their first three games in the Invitationals due to her Alas Pilipinas duty, Galanza returned in style with 13 points, eight excellent receptions, and five digs as Creamline completed an elimination round sweep with a 25-15, 25-13, 25-19 victory over the winless Farm Fresh on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Although she got the go signal late like other Alas players, Galanza is ready to offer whatever she can contribute with Creamline having a chance to complete a Grand Slam — a feat it couldn’t complete in the past two seasons.

Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig (16) returns to her mother club in the PVL after her stint with Alas Pilipinas.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Dawn Macandili-Catindig, armed with her Alas Pilipinas experience, is eager to help Cignal in its crucial match against defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze for the remaining final berth in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Catindig’s PVL return after a stint with the national team was spoiled as Cignal absorbed its first defeat of the tournament at the hands of Creamline, 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, on Monday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.

“With the result, still very happy pa rin ako to be back. Proud pa rin ako sa teammates ko kasi they did their best. Although yun nga, ang dami pa rin naming lapses,” said the star libero, who returned with 27 digs. “May chance pa rin naman kami to be in the finals. We just have to focus on this next game kung paano kami makakabawi.”

Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL Invitationals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Even with little turnaround time, Creamline has put itself in a position to complete the PVL’s first grand slam after making the title game of the Invitational Conference ahead of everyone else late Monday night.

Only a week removed from winning their ninth title, the Cool Smashers have taken a business-as-usual approach here and are undefeated heading into the no-tomorrow game against either Cignal or defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan on Friday.

Rest, after all, is for the lesser mortals.