ANTIPOLO — Champion teams Creamline and Petro Gazz drew the same winning outcomes in front of over 4,000 fans for the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals at the Ynares Center.
However, such resounding wins had contrasting implications.
The Angels forced a rubber match on Tuesday with a 25-19, 25-13, 28-26 sweep of upset-conscious ZUS Coffee in Game Two.
Brooke Van Sickle celebrated her 27th birthday in style with a 17-point, eight-dig double-double to save Petro Gazz’ title hopes.
For the 17th time in as many conferences, the Cool Smashers then barged into the semis with a 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 fightback over Chery Tiggo to complete the series sweep.
Bernadeth Pons chalked up a series-clinching double-double with 17 points and 15 receptions.
Here are the key takeaways from a thrilling playoff double-header in the PVL’s third trip to Antipolo this conference.
1) BDL IS CREAMLINE’S UNSUNG HERO THIS CONFERENCE
There’s the Creamline big three in Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza, along with newly-minted MVPs Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, and Kyle Negrito.
But shining just as bright for the five-peat-seeking Cool Smashers is best middle blocker frontrunner Bea de Leon.
READ: Bea de Leon continues to shine for Creamline in out-of-town games
BDL topped the blocking department in prelims play with 0.78 blocks per set.
In the quarterfinals alone, she had five blocks each in both games and normed 12.5 points from the middle to lead Creamline’s winning drive against Chery Tiggo.
From offense to defense, Creamline has it covered.
2) PVL SEMIS STILL CREAMLINE’S PLAYGROUND
Closing out Chery Tiggo in Game Two sent Creamline to its 17th straight trip to the PVL semifinals.
For context, Creamline has played 17 conferences in the PVL since the league’s inception in 2017.
READ: PVL semis has become Creamline's personal playground
What has been the ‘Creamline Invitationals’ over the last eight years resulted to 10 titles, three runner-up finishes, and three bronze medals.
It must now overcome a single-round robin semis this time to propel its bid for a fifth straight title and 11th overall.
The only time the Cool Smashers fell flat in such a format was in the 2022 Reinforced Conference when a triple-tie with Petro Gazz and Cignal saw Creamline drop to third by virtue of an inferior set ratio.
With Choco Mucho, Akari, and one of Petro Gazz or ZUS Coffee joining them in the Final Four, there won’t be any room for Creamline to let its guard down with four fierce challengers aiming high in a bid to shoot it down.
3) PETRO GAZZ SHOWED CHAMPION-LIKE COMPOSURE UNDER PRESSURE
While being a PVL champion is often synonymous with Creamline, there are actually two local teams that have defeated the Cool Smashers in a PVL title series.
Petro Gazz is one of them.
Fueled by a sense of urgency in a do-or-die playoff game, the Angels displayed that championship-caliber poise even with their backs against the wall to force a rubber match against ZUS Coffee.
Mighty teams like Petro Gazz may not be able to dodge every curveball thrown its way just like the one fired by the Thunderbelles in Game One.
But when the chance to strike back comes, expect a champion team like the Angels to do champion things — hopefully at least one more time for a shot at a third franchise championship.
4) ZUS COFFEE DEALT HARSH BUT NECESSARY REALITY CHECK
From the highs of a breakthrough Game One win, the Thunderbelles were sent crashing back to earth as they got swept right back by the Angels in Antipolo.
Only ZUS Coffee newcomer Chinnie Arroyo hit double-figures with 10 points, as it was unable to get over the line in an extended third frame.
The No. 7 seed was bested in all statistical departments in Game Two and nearly conceded a set’s worth of faults with 20 unforced errors.
With a revitalized Petro Gazz looking to pounce in the rubber match, the Thunderbelles must rediscover that surprise winning recipe to add at least another chapter to their fairy tale run.
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