PVL: Creamline eliminates Akari to complete semis cast

Creamline brushed off a Set 3 debacle to complete a 25-23, 25-20, 16-25, 25-16 win over Akari in their 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference play-in match on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

The Cool Smashers are now marching toward their 18th semifinal appearance to complete the Final Four cast alongside top-seeded PLDT, Cignal, and Farm Fresh as they battle it out in a single-round semifinals.

The victory featured a vintage performance from Alyssa Valdez, who posted 20 points, 19 digs, and eight receptions, carrying Creamline back to a familiar ground. Bernadeth Pons and Jeanette Panaga provided support with 13 and 12 markers each.

But the Cool Smashers had to stage a fierce Set 4 to give Akari the boot.

Eli Soyud, Ced Domingo, and Ivy Lacsina powered the Chargers’ comeback in Set 3, with the latter even pushing them to a 16–11 lead before forcing the Cool Smashers into another set.

But Pons and Valdez connived in the fourth, joining forces to turn a slim 6-4 lead to a 12-4 cushion thanks to a 6-0 rampage that helped them create enough separation from the Chargers.

Bea De Leon then finished a running kill off a perfectly timed pass from Kyle Negrito, whose one-two dump extended Creamline’s lead to 23–13. Valdez' combination play clinched the match point, but Akari staged a desperate run off a 3-0 blast led by Grethcel Soltones and Lacsina. 

Soltones, however, failed to send her serve across the net, allowing the Cool Smashers to complete the four-set romp.

Lacsina paced Akari with 13 points and 24 receptions while Fifi Sharma chipped in 12 markers. Soyud and Domingo tallied 11 markers apiece.

—JMB, GMA News