Creamline sweeps Jordan's Al Naser to open AVC Champions League bid

Creamline rallied from an early first set deficit to complete a 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Al Naser Club of Jordan in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cool Smashers, who erased a five-point disadvantage in the first frame before getting their groove in the next sets, went 1-0 in Pool A to kick off the Philippines’ bid in the inaugural tournament.

Al Naser, meanwhile, went 0-1.

The Cool Smashers, who were coming off a runner-up finish in the PVL All-Filipino Conference, were once down 3-8 in the opening frame. The Filipinas, however, clawed their way back with Alysda Valdez tying it up at 23–all.

The two teams exchanged points before usual suspects Jema Galanza and Pangs Panaga finished it off for the 10-time PVL champions.

It was also Panaga who put the punctuation in the second set, serving up an ace to carry Creamline to a 2-0 set advantage. 

Erica Staunton, who reinforced the Cool Smashers during the previous PVL Reinforced Conference, converted timely hits amid a late comeback attempt from Al Naser, unleashing an off-the-block kill from the left wing for the match point at 24-18. 

The American import then sealed it with an opposite kill over two blockers. 

Staunton top-scored with 17 points built on 13 attacks, three aces, and one block while Valdez chipped in 10 markers, three digs, and five receptions. 

Other Creamlie imports in Anastasya Kudryashova of Russia chimed in with eight points while Anastassiya Kolomoyets of Kazakhstan added five markers. 

"I'm just excited to be able to play with them again. I've been here for a couple of weeks so obviously I was watching their game in the finals (of PVL) and I was just itching to be able to be on the court with them again," Staunton said.

"I'm just excited to be here playing with Creamline, but also be able to play and represent the Philippines. Overall, it's very surreal and I'm really happy to be back."

Creamline will look to sweep the group stage when it takes on Zhetsyu of Kazakhstan on Monday at 7 p.m.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News