MANILA, Philippines — The Creamline Cool Smashers are back in the finals.
Creamline took down the gutsy Farm Fresh Foxies in four sets, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, in a do-or-die semifinals duel in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Thursday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The 10-time league champions completed a rare grand slam in 2024 but struggled in the 2025 season. The Cool Smashers failed to win the 2025 All-Filipino Conference crown after they were dethroned by the defunct Petro Gazz Angels.
Three of Creamline’s 10 titles came from the All-Filipino Conference, following their dominance in the 2023 and 2024 editions.
For this year's championship showdown, the Cool Smashers will face the fortified Cignal Super Spikers who have been playing well all conference long.
The best-of-three championship series begins on Tuesday.
In Thursday's rubber match, playmaker Jia De Guzman orchestrated 26 excellent sets that allowed four Cool Smashers to score in double digits. She also scored five points, herself.
Bernadeth Pons turned in a triple-double performance for Creamline with 12 points, 17 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions.
Tots Carlos led the team in scoring with 15 points, while Jeanette Panaga and Jema Galanza churned out 13 points each.
“We are very happy since we missed the finals for over a year, and this time we are back. It was a shaky elimination round, but I am glad that the team managed to power through and overcome the challenges. I am very happy since everyone is healthy,” head coach Sherwin Meneses said after the match against Farm Fresh.
Farm Fresh, on the other hand, was led by Trisha Tubu who netted 21 points and Ces Molina who added 19 points.
