Creamline's pursuit of a seventh consecutive Finals appearance in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference hit a bump in the road after a stunning defeat to Petro Gazz in their opening match of the round-robin semifinals.
The Cool Smashers, reeling from the 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-25 loss, could have easily allowed their morale to dip. Instead, they saw the setback as fuel for the fire—motivation to come back stronger and fight for their coveted Finals spot.
In the face of adversity, the Cool Smashers knew their destiny remained in their own hands. The six-month-long battle in the tournament was far from over, and Creamline's championship pedigree would be tested once again.
On Tuesday, during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, the Cool Smashers showed exactly why they have been the standard in Philippine volleyball. In front of a packed crowd at the Philsports Arena, they bounced back with a resounding 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 victory over Akari. The win kept their Finals hopes very much alive, and it was clear that Creamline was not about to go down without a fight.
For Bernadeth Pons, the key to the team’s resurgence lay in preparation. Head coach Sherwin Meneses and his coaching staff made sure the players were mentally primed for the challenge ahead. According to Pons, it was clear that the game against Akari would be crucial for their future in the tournament.
“Lahat naman kami talagang minindset ni coach. Sabi nga sa amin ni coach na parang 90-percent hawak pa rin namin ‘yung destiny namin, kung makakapasok pa kami sa Finals or hahayaan nalang ba namin na malalaglag kami,” Pons shared.
In the match itself, Pons was nothing short of sensational, leading the charge with a game-high 17 points. Her stellar all-around play didn't stop there, as she also recorded 15 excellent receptions and 12 digs. Her floor defense was a standout, reflecting the Cool Smashers' renewed focus after their defensive lapses in the loss to Petro Gazz.
“Siguro po ‘yung sa last game namin, sabi ni coach naging careless kami dun sa mga bola na mga kontrolado namin pero hindi namin siya hinahatid ng maayos. Dapat kasi ‘yung mga kontrolado naming bola, 100-percent kami doon,” Pons said.
Following the loss to Petro Gazz, the team had put extra emphasis on making sure they executed every play with precision. As Pons explained, it was all about improving their control over the aspects of the game they could dominate.
“Mas nag-extra focus kami sa training namin na dapat pagdating ngayong game, ‘yung mga controlled namin na bola, dapat 100% namin ma-improve ng maayos para maka-engage ‘yung middle namin. Mas madali kasi ‘yung trabaho ng lahat pag kasama talaga ‘yung gitna. So, ‘yun lang din, sinunod namin ‘yung sinabi ni coach and ‘yung sistema.”
With the momentum firmly in their corner, the Cool Smashers are now eyeing their next crucial battle in the semifinals, as they prepare to face Choco Mucho in a must-win game on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Both Creamline and Akari currently have 1-1 records, while Petro Gazz leads the pack with a 1-0 record, and Choco Mucho is yet to register a win at 0-1.
The road to the Finals is still very much within reach for Creamline, but the Cool Smashers know they must continue to build on their hard-fought victory over Akari if they are to keep their championship aspirations alive.
