Creamline Cool Smashers have a good time some extent against Farm Fresh Foxies within the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Creamline booked its ninth straight PVL All-Filipino Conference finals after outlasting a gritty Farm Fresh side, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, in a do-or-die semifinals game on Thursday before a packed Filoil Centre in San Juan City.
The Cool Smashers, who were dethroned last yr, earn a shot at title redemption as they face the Cignal Super Spikers in a best-of-three title series starting on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: Cool Smashers see take long, tough road back to top of PVL heap
Creamline entered the finals for the fifteenth straight time since 2018 while ending a three-tournament finals drought after missing the PVL on Tour, Invitational, and Reinforced Conference championships last yr.
“I feel the largest factor was the players really stepping up. They really desired to win today. Farm Fresh will not be a simple team, they’re a veteran squad. But I feel our players just had a stronger desire to win, get back to the finals, and face Cignal,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.
Cignal and Creamline clash for a PVL championship for the second time because the 2024 Invitational finals when the Cool Smashers accomplished a historic grand slam in an epic five-set duel in a winner-take-all game.
Creamline returns to the finals! #PVL2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/pR7foOmc20
— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) April 16, 2026
Creamline blew a 19-14 spread within the third set after Mylene Paat scored three straight points of their 5-0 run to tie the frame. Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, and Jema Galanza restored the order to succeed in match point, 24-22.
Trisha Tubu saved some extent for Farm Fresh, but Tots Carlos helped the Cool Smashers escape for a 2-1 match advantage.
The 2 teams went to battle within the fourth anew, but Pangs Panaga nailed the telling blows with an enormous block on Tubu followed by a fast attack to provide Creamline a 23-19 lead.
Two consecutive errors by Tubu sent the Cool Smashers to the finals.
Carlos led the best way with 15 points and 14 digs. Panaga and Galanza chipped in 13 points each, with the previous nailing half of the team’s 12 blocks. Bernadeth Pons flaunted an all-around game with 12 points, 17 digs, and 17 excellent receptions.
Jia De Guzman orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets and scored five, as Jen Nierva had 23 excellent receptions out of 29 attempts.
Farm Fresh finished the round with one win in three matches in its first semifinal appearance. The Foxies eye a primary PVL podium finish against the PLDT High Speed Hitters within the bronze series.
Tubu had 21 points for Farm Fresh. Ces Molina delivered 19 points, 20 excellent receptions, and 15 digs. Royse Tubino had 12 points, 14 digs, and 13 excellent receptions, as Paat played her best game as a Foxy with 11.