Creamline, Cignal clash in must-watch PVL Finals

Hunger will shape the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals as Creamline and Cignal head into the championship series determined to finish what they started.

For Cignal, the Finals offer a chance to win a breakthrough title and finally claim the franchise’s first All-Filipino crown.

For Creamline, the motivation comes from a different place, with the Cool Smashers eager to end an unusual title drought and reclaim the top spot after missing the championship in the last three conferences.

“It’s been a while, right? Almost a year? We missed three conferences,” said Alyssa Valdez in Filipino, reflecting on Creamline’s return to the title round. “Honestly, no words can fully explain what we’re feeling at this moment. Of course, we’re very happy – it feels so good to be back in the Finals.”

At 32, Valdez remains one of Creamline’s emotional leaders and one of the most experienced Finals performers in the series.

The best-of-three championship showdown begins Tuesday, April 21, giving both teams several days to recover, review tendencies and sharpen their strategies before the opening serve.

Beyond tactics, however, both squads enter the series driven by equal urgency.

Cignal has openly embraced the opportunity to chase its first All-Filipino title.

Creamline, meanwhile, has made clear that simply reaching the Finals again is not enough.

“Of course, we’re happy – it’s been almost a year since we last made the Finals,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino. “But that’s how it is – there are ups and downs. What matters is how you recover. The trust within the team is still there. Even when we were down last year, we stayed together. I’m grateful the players are still here, and now we’re back in the Finals.”

Creamline’s path back to the championship round tested that resolve from the start.

The Cool Smashers survived multiple five-set matches and absorbed a loss to Cignal in the Qualifying Round before grinding out do-or-die victories to secure a return to the Finals.

“That experience – playing in do-or-die games – not every team gets that,” said Meneses. “We’ve embraced the pressure. We’re also blessed to have made it back to the Finals, but as Bernadette Pons said, the real goal is to become champions. That’s what we’ll work hard for – to give our 100 percent.”

The challenge now becomes even steeper against a Cignal side that enters the Finals with momentum and confidence.

Cignal has beaten Creamline in their last two meetings, a sign of the Super Spikers’ growth and a reminder that the defending power in the league is facing a genuine threat.

Even so, Meneses believes Creamline’s veteran core, long-standing chemistry and improved health could become key factors in the series.

“I think Creamline’s core is really a veteran group,” he said. “We’re blessed because our core is still intact. Other teams continue to build and strengthen, but ours has stayed together – that’s our advantage. The chemistry is there. And right now, we’re complete and healthy.”

Meneses also acknowledged that Cignal’s rise has been built on cohesion, discipline and leadership.

“Cignal is very deserving of being in the Finals,” he said. “Their teamwork is excellent, and their leaders really contribute – especially Gel Cayuna. We’ll give our 100 percent. Our chemistry and familiarity with Jia (de Guzman) will help, and it’s a blessing that we’re healthy now after dealing with injuries earlier.”

Despite Creamline’s championship pedigree, Meneses dismissed the idea that the Cool Smashers hold a clear edge going into the series.

“Every game, people say Creamline has the advantage,” he said. “But Cignal’s core and chemistry are strong – they’ve built that over time. Yes, maybe we have some edge in crowd support and chemistry, but this is the Finals. The teams are evenly matched.”

For Meneses, the championship will not be decided by height or sheer force alone.

“In the Finals, it’s not about who’s bigger or smaller – it’s about skills,” he said.

That view captures what could define the series as two of the league’s most disciplined teams prepare for a high-pressure battle.

When the Finals begin, hunger, experience and talent will all be on display, but execution is likely to decide the title.

The team that controls the tempo, answers pressure and delivers in the biggest moments will be the one left standing at the end of the series. (PVL)