CREAMLINE is through to the playoffs for a record 20th time in as many conferences after a 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 rout of struggling Choco Mucho in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
That’s now 17 wins for the Cool Smashers in 18 all-time league meetings between the Rebisco sister squads.
This historic run rolls on, as Creamline's untouchable playoff streak, now spanning eight straight years, lives to see another extended campaign.
Courtney Schwan topped the scoresheets for the Cool Smashers with an all-around performance, one that saw her finish with 15 points, 13 receptions and seven digs.
"'Yung strength naman talaga ng Creamline, every point talaga, napaka-competitive niyan. Sa ngayon, happy ako kasi talagang nagco-contribute lahat ng players," said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
"'Yung medyo slight na adjustments namin, tinatrabaho pa namin going sa mga crucial games namin. Hopefully, sa quarterfinals, mas maging pulido pa 'yung rotations namin."
Creamline built 10-point cushions in the first two sets and was poised to do the same in the third before a late Choco Mucho surge, led by Isa Molde and Marlee Smith, even gave them brief one-point leads in the endgame.
The rally fell short, however, as Creamline’s MVP wingers, Michele Gumabao and Tots Carlos, backstopped Schwan’s team-leading efforts with nine and eight points, respectively, closing out the match in three sets.
Still in their sights for the rest of import-laced play is snapping a franchise-worst three-conference title drought, their longest stretch without a championship, after settling for silver in the All-Filipino and back-to-back bronzes in the PVL on Tour and Invitational.
Meanwhile, the Flying Titans’ playoff hopes now hang by a thread, as they remain stuck in 10th place at 2-5.
One more loss, or a win from both Capital1 and Petro Gazz, would officially extend Choco Mucho’s streak of missing the playoffs in all three Reinforced Conferences it has played in.
Flying Titans' wings clipped
Aside from that late third-set charge, Choco Mucho showed little life against the defending champions, who had them flat-footed for nearly the entire match.
Isa Molde was the team’s lone double-digit scorer, finishing with 11 points, 16 receptions, and seven digs.
Des Cheng was held to three points but contributed defensively with eight receptions, while Marlee Smith added just five points in limited minutes.
Maddie Madayag and Royse Tubino were among the few bright spots, chipping in seven and six points, respectively.
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