If there ever was a team to make even more history in the PVL, who else than the Creamline Cool Smashers?
Dominant from one season to the next, a Grand Slam run had seemingly eluded the Cool Smashers—but not in 2024.
This year, Creamline finally did it. Here’s a look back on the Cool Smashers’ historic golden campaign.
All-Filipino Glory
It all started in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
After a grueling elimination round that almost saw Creamline fail to make it into the semifinals, the Cool Smashers found their way back into the playoffs and eventually, the Finals, where they faced their sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans for the second straight conference.
While Choco Mucho impressed many during its own run to the Finals, Creamline always seemed to have its sister team’s number.
This was true enough as the defending champions mustered all their strength to overcome the Flying Titans in a five-set thriller in Game 2, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11.
Thus, Creamline clinched an 8th PVL title and fourth straight All-Filipino crown.
“Sobrang happy lang ako sa kung gaano kalaki na 'yung ginrow ng bawa't isa sa amin. Hindi madali, sobrang hirap talaga kasi minsan gumigising kami sa umaga na, 'Aabot ba tayo?' Magbo-book na ba kami? Kasi talagang parang onti nalang mawawala na samin 'yung goal namin,” said Jema Galanza, who was named Finals MVP.
“Pag subok talaga samin ito. Sinubok talaga kami ng season na ito and sana madami kaming matutunan,” she added.
Alyssa Valdez even called their All-Filipino championship run the “hardest” Creamline’s ever faced.
But little did they know that it would be the start of their Grand Slam run.
“Siguro based sa standings namin, probably this was the hardest, most challenging, unpredictable season for the Creamline Cool Smashers,” said Valdez.
“But I guess this is also the season that we proved to our team, to ourselves, to the coaches, and the whole management that our family will stay and stick together despite everything,” she added.
Finding the perfect reinforcement
Just a few months later, the Cool Smashers were back in action for the Reinforced Conference—an import-laden tournament they’ve struggled with in previous years.
It didn’t help either that Valdez and Tots Carlos sat out the conference due to knee injuries, while Galanza was also out amid her Alas Pilipinas duties.
But while many teams opted for a familiar face or a veteran presence as import, Creamline went with a young and supposedly unproven 24-year-old American spiker named Erica Staunton.
It’s safe to say that all those doubts have since been squashed by Staunton, who delivered when it mattered the most for the Cool Smashers.
On their way to the championship match, the Sherwin Meneses-mentored squad dominated the defending champions, the Petro Gazz Angels, with a clean sweep in the quarterfinals.
Creamline then pulled off an incredible reverse sweep against Cignal in the semifinals, a win highlighted by overcoming a 21-24 deficit in set 4 against the HD Spikers, who were just one point away from securing a Finals berth.
Advancing to the title round once again, the Cool Smashers dismantled the Akari Chargers with a commanding 25-15, 25-23, 25-17 victory in one of the league's most electrifying Finals performances.
Creamline’s triumph wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of Staunton and superstar Bernadeth Pons.
The former FEU Lady Tamaraws standout had taken a supporting role in previous conferences for Creamline, but rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
The 27-year-old outside hitter stepped up to fill the void left by Carlos, Galanza, and Valdez, earning both the Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors for her stellar performances, quite the rare feat in the PVL.
“Siyempre, sobrang happy kasi hindi madali 'yung conference na ito. Sobrang pahirapan din talaga bawa't game pero sobrang tinrabaho namin every day sa training pa lang. Sobrang ginusto namin na makuha itong championship na ito and sobrang saya kasi first Reinforced Conference ko din ito with Creamline, so I'm so happy,” said Pons.
Completing the perfect season
Barely a week later, the 2024 Invitational Conference was underway, and the Cool Smashers were back to business.
Creamline dominated the preliminary round with a flawless four-game sweep, which included taking its revenge on a former Finals tormentor and defending champion in Japan's Kurashiki Ablaze.
In the Invitational Finals, Creamline faced a determined Cignal squad in the championship match.
In a gripping five-set showdown, the Cool Smashers emerged victorious, outlasting the HD Spikers with scores of 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, and 15-13.
The win not only secured the Invitational Conference title but also completed Creamline's coveted Grand Slam.
Michele Gumabao and setter Kyle Negrito joined the ranks of Creamline MVPs, earning Conference MVP and Finals MVP, respectively, for their exceptional performances.
“Ang focus talaga namin these conferences ay mag-champion kasi ‘yun naman talaga goal namin. Totoo nga na makakuha ng ganitong award ay bonus lang. Sabi nga ni bossing dedma lang,” said Negrito.
“‘Yung mga kasama ko lang din talaga pinanghahawakan ko. Binabalik ko lang din ‘yung tiwala na binigay nila.”
[ALSO READ: Coolest Queens: Meet the MVPs behind Creamline’s PVL championship dynasty]
10 PVL titles and the first team to win three conferences in one season.
Indeed the Cool Smashers placed themselves into the history books as one of the best–if not the best–volleyball teams in the Philippines.