The Creamline Cool Smashers, recently-crowned as PVL Reinforced Conference champions, will now also play for the PVL Invitational title.
Grand Slam is in play for Creamline.
The Cool Smashers are heading into the gold medal match of the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference, giving them the unique chance of winning two titles in a week after beating the Cignal HD Spikers in four sets, 25-22, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday, September 9.
Not even a week after winning the Reinforced Conference crown, the Cool Smashers drubbed a Cignal squad that welcomed back Alas Pilipinas players Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig for a chance to complete the PVL’s first ever Grand Slam in the 2024 season.
[Related: PVL says Alas Pilipinas players can now re-join respective teams]
But the perennial powerhouse had to fend off a tough Cignal side that once again pushed Creamline to the limit.
After a lopsided opening set loss, the HD Spikers fought back to go toe-to-toe with Creamline in an extended set 2, which the Cool Smashers ultimately still won.
But Cignal finally came alive in the third, finising off set 3 with an 11-3 run powered by import MJ Perez.
Still, owing to their championship experience, the Cool Smashers bounced right back in set 4 as they staved off the HD Spikers.
Cignal hung around until late in the decisive set when Perez scored to get within two points of Creamline, 17-19, but double MVP Bernadeth Pons scored back-to-back points to create distance anew for the girls in pink.
Creamline import Erica Staunton finished with a big game anew with 27 points to lead the Cool Smashers. But it was veteran playmaker Kyle Negrito who copped Player of the Game honors as she scored seven points and finished with 22 excellent sets.
Meanwhile, Pons had herself another triple-double, going for 15 points, 17 digs, and 20 receptions.
For Cignal, Perez fired 35 points in a losing effort, while former MVP Ces Molina added 19 points. Catindig checked in during the second set and recorded a game-high 27 digs.
After the match, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses expressed delight at the chance to win another championship in just a week’s time.
“Syempre masaya kasi nakabalik ulit kami sa Finals so, may chance kami na maka-champion ulit. About Cignal naman, talagang di rin sila bibitaw talaga hanggang dulo so, happy ako dahil nakuha namin yung panalo ngayon,” he said.
This is Creamline’s 13th Finals appearance in the PVL – and the 6th in a row for the Cool Smashers.