THE pink dynasty inched closer to restoration as Creamline struck first over Cignal in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference finals, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
There were no signs of rust from the Cool Smashers in a blowout Game 1 win, even after a rare year-long wait since their last championship appearance and missing the finals in the three tournaments that followed.
If anything, it looked like a team on a mission.
The win also served as timely payback, as Creamline snapped a two-game skid against Cignal in post-preliminaries play this conference, turning the tables after losses in both the qualifying round and the semifinals.
Jema Galanza delivered on both ends with 17 points and 13 receptions on 72 percent efficiency, leading Creamline’s charge.
Bernadeth Pons also made her presence felt in her first PVL Finals stint since her beach volleyball run, finishing with 11 points and 13 digs, while Jia de Guzman orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets and four points. Kyla Atienza added 12 digs to anchor the floor.
“Hindi pa naman tapos ‘yung laban pero big advantage ‘to sa’min,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Pero sobrang happy kasi three sets namin nakuha ‘yung Cignal at sobrang laking benefit [sa team].”
Also, an even bigger statistic for Creamline was how it limited itself to just 12 unforced errors the whole match, compared to 22 for Cignal.
Cool Smashers cool under pressure
Creamline built a 16-12 cushion at the first technical timeout of the opener and never looked back.
Back-to-back hits from Galanza, capped by a Pangs Panaga finish, sealed the set despite a late Vanie Gandler-led surge.
Drawing from its experience in a league-best 11th finals stint, the Cool Smashers tightened their grip in Set 2, with another Galanza burst finished off by Pons to take a 2-0 lead.
An 8-2 start in the third then served as the finishing kick, stretching the margin to as much as nine at 22-13 and leaving no room for Cignal to rally as Creamline seized the series lead.
Gandler paced Cignal with 17 points and 10 receptions, while Erika Santos added a 10-point, 10-dig double-double in her finals debut.
Gel Cayuna had 14 excellent sets and six points, but Tin Tiamzon was held to just three markers as the Super Spikers now face the brink of another PVL Finals loss.
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