Galanza leads Creamline sweep of Akari in Cebu

CEBU CITY — Creamline unleashed its championship firepower and trademark composure to sweep Akari, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18, before a roaring crowd of 19,106 at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena late Saturday, extending its impressive run since reclaiming the PVL All-Filipino crown last April.

Armed with a deep arsenal of attackers, disciplined net defense and the poise of a battle-tested champion, the Cool Smashers dictated the tempo from the opening serve.

Creamline overwhelmed the Chargers with its variety of attacks and refused to crack when challenged in the second set.

The performance underscored the value of continuity and chemistry.

One of the few teams that made minimal changes to its roster during the offseason, Creamline drew strength from a seasoned core whose experience and familiarity have helped fuel its 11-championship haul in the league.

Against an Akari side that struggled to establish its rhythm, particularly in first-ball reception and passing, the Cool Smashers capitalized on every opening.

Creamline attacked from different angles and kept the Chargers off balance with its offensive variety and defensive pressure at the net.

“Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na lahat kami nag-contribute. This is what we train for, at sana magtuloy-tuloy ito,” said Jema Galanza, who highlighted her all-around performance with 16 points to earn top honors.

Asked how the league, now in its 10th season, had helped shape her through the years, the former Adamson University standout expressed gratitude for the opportunities the PVL had given her both on and off the court.

“Thankful ako sa PVL kasi hindi lang sa volleyball ako nag-grow through the years, pati na rin sa buhay. Maraming naitulong sa akin ang liga, pati sa family ko, at nakakatuwa dahil sa pamamagitan ng PVL, napapasaya namin ang fans,” said Galanza.

After encountering little resistance in a seven-point opening-set win, Creamline appeared headed for an even more comfortable finish in the second frame.

The Cool Smashers raced to a commanding 21-12 lead behind their relentless attack and steady floor defense.

But Akari refused to go quietly.

The Chargers mounted a seven-point run sparked by Ivy Lacsina and capped by a wayward attack from Galanza to trim the deficit to two.

Sensing the momentum shift, Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses called consecutive timeouts to halt Akari’s surge.

The Chargers continued to press as Lacsina found the floor with a soft touch before Mary Rhose Dapol fired an ace that pulled Akari within 21-22.

That was when Creamline’s championship poise came to the fore.

Bea de Leon stemmed the tide with a quick attack.

Galanza quickly shook off her earlier miscue and answered with a clutch crosscourt hit.

She followed with another punishing spike that deflected off a defender and landed in Zone 1, bringing the Cool Smashers to set point.

Akari then misplayed a Creamline serve before Lorie Bernardo hammered home the overpass for the set-clinching point and a commanding 2-0 lead.

The Cool Smashers carried that momentum into the third set, again leaning on their superior firepower and defensive discipline to prevent the Chargers from mounting a sustained rally.

With scoring threats coming from multiple fronts, Creamline kept Akari guessing, controlled the exchanges at the net and steadily pulled away to complete the straight-sets victory.

Akari opened the third-set scoring, but Creamline immediately answered with disciplined defense and efficient offense.

The Cool Smashers scored five straight points and never relinquished control.

As in the second set, the Chargers tried to rally from a 12-19 deficit.

Akari unleashed a three-point run capped by Sharya Ancheta’s ace.

But the Cool Smashers refused to let the Chargers come any closer than three points at 18-21.

Galanza again took charge, delivering two clutch hits, including an off-balance left-handed push that Akari failed to return.

Akari challenged the call for a possible antenna violation, but a video review upheld the ruling.

Creamline eventually sealed the victory with Michele Gumabao’s thunderous hit after a three-exchange rally.

More than just a sweep, in stark contrast to the five-set thriller between Choco Mucho and Capital1, it was the manner of Creamline’s triumph that stood out.

The Cool Smashers blended offensive firepower with defensive tenacity throughout the match.

When Akari threatened to steal the second set, Creamline displayed championship poise and delivered the decisive blows before the momentum could slip away.

The outcomes of the first two matches heightened the intrigue in the Siklab Series under the all-to-play format, part of the three-conference race for the All-Filipino crown.

Sister teams Choco Mucho and Creamline both made early statements in their latest title campaigns in the league organized by Sports Vision.