IN the absence of defending champion Petro Gazz and with a dramatically reshaped landscape, the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference appears wide open, at least on paper.
Yet when the question of a team to beat is raised across the league, one name continues to surface: Creamline.
READ: Here's how much it costs to run a PVL team amid recent exits
Despite coming off one of a title-less year, the Cool Smashers’ stature as 10-time champions remains intact, commanding both respect and caution from rivals.
“Sa’kin siguro ‘yung Creamline pa rin kasi maraming nagbalik, maraming naghahangad na matalo sila,” said Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin, whose own side underwent a major facelift with the arrival of Eya Laure.
Creamline’s offseason has been defined less by splashy moves and more by timely reinforcements and key returns.
The comeback of eight-time best setter Jia de Guzman alone alters the team’s ceiling, while the return of 2024 Reinforced Conference MVP Bernadeth Pons further restores the Cool Smashers’ championship bite.
An improving, health-wise, Jema Galanza and newly signed national team libero Jen Nierva are also set to bolster an already-battle-tested core.
“With Jia back, it makes a difference for the team,” echoed Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, who previously mentored de Guzman with Alas Pilipinas.
Even teams preparing to face Creamline early are under no illusion about the challenge ahead.
“Sarili muna, then Creamline,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort, whose High Speed Hitters open their campaign against the Cool Smashers on February 5.
Aside from Creamline, though...
Others echoed the sentiment, while also acknowledging league-wide upgrades.
“To be honest, PLDT, Creamline, Akari, Choco [Mucho], lahat talaga. Kung makikita niyo naman ‘yung lineups, ang laki ng mga changes,” Cignal mentor Shaq delos Santos said.
Even Nxled, now stacked with former Petro Gazz champions, has pointed to Creamline as the measuring stick.
“With 10 teams in the league, the level of competition is just so high, but the two teams I’m most curious to go up against are right there at that table [Creamline and PLDT],” Chameleons head coach Ettore Guidetti said.
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