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Creamline makes history, clinches first-ever PVL Grand Slam
Creamline celebrates after winning the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference championship against Cignal HD, September 12, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) – The Creamline Cool Smashers are the Premier Volleyball League’s first-ever Grand Slam winners after claiming the 2024 Invitational Conference championship on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Cool Smashers turned back the Cignal HD Spikers in the one-game title showdown, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, to secure the rare feat that no team has done before in the professional league.
The Sherwin Meneses-coached squad secured all crowns in the 2024 season after winning the All-Filipino Conference, Reinforced Conference, and the eight-day pocket tournament.
This was also Creamline’s 10th PVL crown and an improvement upon their result in last year’s edition of the competition when they succumbed to the visiting Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in the championship series.
The triumph also marked the sweep of the contest, going perfect in five games — four of those in the preliminary round against defending champion Kurashiki, young Thai squad Est Cola, and PVL teams Cignal and Farm Fresh Foxies.
There was nothing but celebration as the Cool Smashers emerged victorious, which spilled into the postgame press conference.
“Siyempre, happy. Super happy talaga. Actually, ayoko na nga maglaro kasi ang ganda-ganda naman ng nilalaro nila. Pero siyempre ang haba na ng nilaro nila this season, dalawang conference na magkasunod so kailangan din talaga ng tulong. Hindi man sa points, kumbaga sa pagiging vocal ba sa mga teammates ko,” said star spiker Jema Galanza, who returned for the Cool Smashers this contest.
“Sana may naitulong pero ‘yun, super happy talaga.”
READ: PVL: Creamline clinches finals berth in Invitational Conference
“Super happy, kasi nagawa namin ito nang sama-sama. And happy because Erica can also leave on a high note and leave with another win,” said Michele Gumabao, who was eventually named Invitational Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“Masaya po, masaya na siyempre nakuha namin ‘yung championship ngayong Invitational na ‘di namin nakuha last Invitational Conference. And masaya rin na nakuha namin ‘yung Grand Slam,” said Kyle Negrito who was recognized as the Finals MVP after tallying 25 excellent sets.
The duo of import Erica Staunton and double MVP Bernadeth Pons took care of business on the offense, listing 29 and 27 points, respectively.
Galanza added 11 markers–two of those were the last two hits of Creamline in Set 5, including the championship point.
The Alas Pilipinas standout powered through nerves as she nailed the point which landed Creamline the rare achievement.
“May kaba, pero sabi ko sa isip ko: ‘ako na ‘to, tatapusin ko na ‘to para sa kanila,'” she said.
The Cool Smashers were actually down two sets to one, but Staunton lived up to her billing, firing a sharp spike to reach set point in the fourth canto, 25-24, and Galanza blocked Toni Rose Basas to force a winner-take-all Set 5.
And the rest is history as the Cool Smashers seized the rubber set off Galanza clutch kills.
Meanwhile, a PVL title remains elusive for the HD Spikers after falling in their second finals appearance.
Import MJ Perez dropped a game-high 42 points for the HD Spikers, but it wasn’t enough to carry Cignal to its breakthrough title.
