Cool Smashers regain footing, ram past EV Crossovers

Games Friday
1:30 p.m. – Cignal vs. Capital1
4 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs. Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – Nxled vs. PLDT

Creamline shook off a slow start and roared back to life behind the steady brilliance of Coco Schwan and the net dominance of Pangs Panaga, carving out a 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Chery Tiggo to guarantee a Top 3 finish in Pool B of the PVL Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Tuesday night.

Schwan powered Creamline with a 29-point explosion built on 25 attacks and four service aces, while Panaga proved unrelenting at the middle, scoring 16 points anchored on five rejections.

Together, they helped the Cool Smashers close the first phase of the two-round preliminaries with a 3-2 record, tying Petro Gazz behind the unbeaten ZUS Coffee (4-0).

Creamline will also take the upper hand in the tiebreaker due to superior points, securing the team a slot in the next phase.

The Akari Chargers, holding a 3-1 slate, still have a shot at securing the No. 2 spot when they face the Thunderbelles next Tuesday.

The top three teams from each pool will advance to the next phase, crossing over to face the bottom three from the other bracket.

After yielding the opening set, Creamline reasserted its championship pedigree, relying on its depth, system, and superior net defense to neutralize Chery Tiggo’s attacking corps.

“Hopefully magtuloy-tuloy na ’to. Binawi talaga namin ’yung talo namin from the last game,” said Panaga, referring to Creamline’s tough four-set loss to the Thunderbelles last Thursday.

The Cool Smashers found themselves on the back foot early, struggling with their passing and rhythm in the first set as Chery Tiggo’s import Yuni Batista and veterans pounced on every opening.

But once the defending champions steadied their reception and tightened their floor coverage, the complexion of the match changed dramatically.

Schwan spearheaded Creamline’s comeback with her sharp cross-court hits and clutch serving, while Panaga turned the middle into a fortress – repeatedly denying Batista and the rest of the Crossovers’ hitters at the net.

The duo’s efforts were complemented by a collective defensive stand that saw Creamline dominate the blocking (11-7) and floor defense departments.

As the sets wore on, the Cool Smashers’ system began to click.

Setter Kyle Negrito orchestrated the offense with poise, finishing with 29 excellent sets and distributing the ball well among her hitters.

The team’s balanced attack kept Chery Tiggo guessing, forcing the Crossovers into errors and erratic reception that Creamline converted into eight service aces – four from Schwan alone.

Tots Carlos continued to find her form with 17 points, while Michele Gumabao added six and rookie Nica Celis made the most of her two-set stint with five markers.

Creamline’s floor defense was equally solid – Carlos tallied 20 excellent receptions, Kyle Atienza registered 16 digs, and Gumabao contributed 14.

“’Yun naman ’yung pinaka-importante eh, ’yung maka-recover dun sa situation na medyo natatalo kami,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses. “‘Yung situation na maka-recover kami sa two, three, and four sets, napakalaking bagay.

Siyempre ’yung total ng points ng team, distributed talaga ngayon so group effort ’yung nangyari today. Thankful kami sa mga players na nag-contribute talaga sila sa game.”

Even without Alyssa Valdez, who saw limited action in the opening frame, the Cool Smashers’ offense remained fluid and aggressive.

Their chemistry and composure proved too much for Chery Tiggo, whose resistance waned in the fourth set as Creamline’s defensive wall shut down Batista’s late efforts.

Batista still led the Crossovers with 22 points, while Cess Robles and Mylene Paat chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.

But their output fell short against Creamline’s sustained defensive pressure and attacking variety.

By the fourth set, Creamline was in full control – its block timing sharper, transition plays smoother, and communication crisper.

With the Cool Smashers dictating the tempo and imposing a near-impenetrable net defense, the Crossovers faltered, yielding the set and the match in just over two hours.

“We just enjoyed the game and followed the instructions of our coaches,” added Panaga, who earned Best Player of the Game honors with a conference-high output she spiked with five blocks.

The victory not only underscored Creamline’s superior depth and defensive discipline but also served as a strong statement that the multi-time champions remain one of the league’s most dangerous teams as the tournament enters the crossover stage.