Creamline brushes off flat start to repel ZUS Coffee in four sets

February 19 ------ CREAMLINE dug deep to turn back ZUS Coffee, 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Playtime Filoil Centre.

Rattled by the Thunderbelles’ late first-set surge, the Cool Smashers quickly regrouped and seized control the rest of the way, unleashing a decisive 14-4 run in the fourth set to seal the victory. Jia de Guzman posted a unique double-double with 25 excellent sets and 10 points, handing Creamline its second straight victory. “We could’ve controlled the game better since we made a lot of errors, pero thankfully, natuto kami at naihabol naman namin,” said Jia de Guzman. “Ito ‘yung kinds of games na natututo kaming gumalaw as one.”

ZUS Coffee threatened early as Chinnie Arroyo powered a late first-set push, turning a back-and-forth opener into a crucial swing for the Thunderbelles’ early advantage. Creamline responded with one of its biggest momentum shifts in the second set. From a tight 17-all deadlock, the Cool Smashers unloaded eight straight points, capped by a vintage Alyssa Valdez kill to highlight her seven-point outing.

The Cool Smashers then imposed their will in the third set, cruising to a nine-point win that set the tone for a convincing four-set finish sealed by a decisive scoring run. Bernadeth Pons once again delivered as Creamline’s top two-way force with 19 points and 16 digs. She drew solid support from Tots Carlos, who had 12 points and eight digs, while Jema Galanza came alive in the fourth set to finish with 11 markers.

ZUS Coffee nearly forced a deciding fifth set, much like it did in its breakthrough win over Akari. However, Arroyo’s 18-point effort, along with 11 from Thea Gagate and nine apiece from Fiola Ceballos and Riza Nogales, was not enough to carry the Thunderbelles to victory. The loss dropped ZUS Coffee to a 1-3 card and back to losing form just after its first win of the conference.

Source: spin.ph