PVL: Creamline outduels Cignal to reclaim All-Filipino throne

Creamline reclaimed the All-Filipino Conference trophy after conquering Cignal, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 in Game Two of the finals on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

After heartbreak last year wherein its four-year streak atop of the AFC mountain was snapped, tonight’s victory for the Cool Smashers gave them their seventh All-Filipino distinction, a record 11th league title overall.

Eventually crowned with Finals Most Valuable Player honors, Bernadeth Pons capped off her return to indoor volleyball basking in gold, leading her team in offense with 22 points which included pivotal points in the deciding set.

Pons also contributed greatly on the defensive side, notching team-highs of 25 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions.

“Sobrang saya. Iba ‘yung saya ng conference ngayon. Kasi sabi nga namin, hindi talaga madali. Ang daming struggles, daming challenges sa team pero na-survive namin lahat,” reflected the Finals MVP.

“Worth it lahat ng effort and sacrifices namin simula noong January 2 noong nag-training na kami,” she added.

(I'm so happy. This conference has been different. We told each other, it really wasn't going to be easy. We went through a lot of struggles and challenges but we survived it all... All of the effort and sacrifice we made since January 2 when we started training, it's all worth it.)

Facing a determined Cignal squad which sought to extend the series, Creamline were brought to a fifth set after conceding the fourth canto, 16-25.

With key hitters Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos carrying the offensive load for Cignal in the opening actions of set five, both squads engaged in a back-and-forth affair, deadlocking at 10-all.

Deep into championship points, Cool Smashers veteran Tots Carlos showed her experience and composure, scoring the last three out of five points of Creamline, including the title-winning block off Gandler’s attack.

Despite her late-game heroics, Carlos was quick to pass on the praise to head coach Sherwin Meneses, maintaining that their mentor was the calming force amidst a heated bout.

“Sobrang remind ni Coach Sherwin sa amin na focus lang kami sa trabaho namin. After every point, sasabihan niya na move on na kami agad sa susunod na point,” confessed Carlos.

“Malaking bagay [yun] nakapag-compose sa amin, kasi si Coach Sherwin mismo, minsan hindi na nga technical sinasabi niya, it’s more of words of encouragement and sinasabi niya lagi na magtiwala kami sa isa’t isa.”

(Coach Sherwin always reminded us to focus on our jobs. After every point, he told us to move on to the next point. It's such a big thing, it kept us composed. Coach Sherwin himself, sometimes he won't give us technical instructions, it's more of words of encouragement and he tells us to just trust in each other.)

Celebrating his eighth PVL championship as a head coach, Sherwin Meneses is overjoyed with how this conference has panned out after the obstacles him and his squad had to go through.

“Sobrang saya talaga kasi parang one year kaming hindi naka-finals. Tapos ‘yung excitement ng game, lalo na ngayon sa game two, nag-five sets…sobrang saya at nakabalik yung Creamline sa championship,” stated Meneses.

“Nagpapasalamat kami talaga sa management namin na hindi talaga sumuko sa amin, sa core na Creamline kasi sobrang tagal na magkakasama. ‘Yun naman ‘yung talagang best ng Creamline.”

(I'm so happy because we weren't able to make the finals in one year. And the excitement of the game, especially in game two, which went five sets... So happy that Creamline was able to return to the championship... We want to thank our management because they never gave up on us, on the core of this Creamline team because it has been together for a long time. That's the best of Creamline.)

—JMB, GMA News