PVL: Creamline regains championship poise, routs Petro Gazz after stumble in opener

Creamline flaunted championship form after carving out a 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20 win against Petro Gazz to break through in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Cool Smashers, who were outlasted by Akari in a five-set showdown to open their campaign last Saturday, have now improved to an even 1-1 card in Pool B while the Angels fell to a similar card. 

Courtney Shwan made sure her output won't go to waste this time as she poured 27 points anchored on 24 attacks and three blocks while Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez each chipped in 14 markers with the latter grabbing 14 digs and 13 receptions for a triple-double effort. 

Schwan completed a combination kill off a decoy play from Jeanette Panaga as Creamline took a 22-18 lead in the fourth set. Brooke Van Sickle, though, responded with back-to-back points to pull the Angels within two. 

The American Schwan then changed her tempo mid-air, unleashing a drop ball that allowed the defending champions to make it a crucial 23-20 cushion. It was Panaga's denial on Van Sickle that clinched four match points for the Cool Smashers. 

In a surprising turn of events, Creamline libero Kyla Atienza sealed the match after her dig sailed over to the other side and was heading out, only for Petro Gazz’s Jell Tempiatura to touch it, giving Creamline the winning point.

Van Sickle finished with a team-high 26 points while their import Lindsey Vander Weide poured 17 markers, 11 digs, and 10 receptions in the losing effort. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News