Cool Smashers survive adversity, edges Super Spikers in 5

Creamline pulled off a heart-stopping comeback, overcoming a series of setbacks to defeat Cignal, 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14, and claim the final spot in the qualifying round of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre on Saturday.

Already missing stars Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons, the Cool Smashers suffered another blow when Jia De Guzman exited early in the fifth set after a right knee injury. Despite losing one of their key playmakers at a critical juncture, Creamline refused to surrender.

Alyssa Valdez delivered a vintage performance, recording a triple-double with 22 points, 13 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions, while Dij Rodriguez and Tots Carlos stepped up in a clutch showing. Rodriguez, in particular, shone with 19 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 12 digs, marking her best PVL performance to date.

“Everyone really stepped up today,” said three-time league MVP Valdez. “After our loss to Farm Fresh, we reminded ourselves that we have to work with what we have and give perfect effort. That’s exactly what the team did.”

Rodriguez added, “I feel honored that the coaches trusted me to fill in for the missing players. It was definitely a huge responsibility, and I just tried to do my best on and off the court.”

The match had swung in Cignal’s favor after the Super Spikers captured the third and fourth sets, setting up a tense final set. Creamline faced another challenge when De Guzman left due to her knee injury, leaving the team without their ace playmaker at a pivotal moment.

But the Cool Smashers’ depth proved decisive. Valdez, Rodriguez, Carlos, and Jeanette Panaga sparked an 8-2 run, turning a 6-8 deficit into a 12-9 lead. Cignal rallied, with Vanie Gandler tying it at 13-all, before Carlos and Erika Encarnacion exchanged points to force 14-all. In the end, Kyle Negrito’s smart setup led to Bea De Leon’s block on Encarnacion, securing the grueling victory after two hours and 25 minutes of play.

Carlos finished with 12 points, while Panaga and De Leon added 11 and nine points, respectively. De Guzman, despite leaving early, still notched 24 excellent sets, highlighting her influence before her exit.

Creamline’s win also confirmed Nxled’s path to the play-in as the fifth seed, setting up a rematch against second-ranked Cignal in the qualifiers. Top-ranked PLDT will face fourth-seeded Farm Fresh in another highly anticipated clash.

On Cignal’s side, Gandler led the team with 26 points, including five kill blocks and an ace, alongside 19 excellent digs and 15 receptions. Erika Santos added 16 points, while Encarnacion contributed 10 off the bench. Dawn Catindig registered 30 excellent digs, and Gel Cayuna distributed 20 excellent sets with seven markers, keeping Cignal competitive until the very end.