Creamline repels upset-conscious Galeries Tower in four sets

March 4 ------ NO upset this time as Creamline shut the door on a surging Galeries Tower side, 25-14, 17-25, 25-18, 25-23, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Playtime Filoil Centre. Wary of the upset-minded Highrisers, the Cool Smashers delivered a performance stable enough to secure their fourth win and stay firmly in the hunt for the top four places. And it was an unrelenting 12-1 start to the fourth frame that slammed the door shut as a fitting response to being silenced in Set 2.

Since that conference-opening loss to PLDT, the 10-time champions have steadily rediscovered their championship form, and their resurgence comes at a crucial point as the preliminaries reach the halfway mark. After scoring 12 of the first 13 points in the fourth set, Creamline seemed headed for a runaway finish. But the Highrisers mounted one last charge, cutting the lead to 20-16 before turning up the heat late.

From 19-24 down, Galeries Tower erased four set points, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Julia Coronel to suddenly put pressure on the Cool Smashers. Creamline, however, had one final answer. Pangs Panaga delivered a thunderous quick from the middle to finally slam the door and end the comeback bid for good. Back in the opener, the Cool Smashers built a lead that ballooned to as many as 10 points, with their starting core clicking early. A 12-5 burst capped by a Kyle Negrito ace wrapped up the first set in commanding fashion. Then, the match flipped as Jean Asis, Erika Deloria and Gayle Pascual took control in the second frame, steering Galeries Tower from start to finish. Fittingly, it was backup setter Maji Mangulabnan who punctuated the set with an ace reminiscent of Negrito’s from the opening frame to level the match.

Creamline tried to reassert control in the third, racing to an 8-2 start. But the Highrisers clawed back, trimming the gap to 17-15 and threatening another shift in momentum. The Cool Smashers, however, leaned on their veteran core once more. An unanswered four-point run, sealed by a Pangs Panaga block, restored order and handed Creamline the set and the match back in their favor.

Tots Carlos powered Creamline with a 19-point, 13-dig double-double, backed by Bernadeth Pons’ 15 markers and Jema Galanza’s 12-point, 11-reception effort. Pangs Panaga added 11 points from the middle, including two blocks, while Jia de Guzman orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets to keep the Cool Smashers in rhythm. Galeries Tower showed flashes of fight, but three consistent scorers were not enough to topple the 10-time champions. Deloria tallied 11 points, 11 digs, and six receptions, while Asis contributed 12 markers on nine attacks and three blocks. Pascual chipped in seven, and veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas was limited to just five points in the loss.

Source: spin.ph