The Creamline Cool Smashers are the favorites entering the winner-take-all Game 3, but the Petro Gazz Angels have proven throughout this conference that they are capable of overcoming any obstacle.
Creamline and Petro Gazz are once again headed for a do-or-die showdown, as they gear up for a winner-take-all Game Three in the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals on Saturday, April 12, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
This marks the third time in five total finals meetings that the Cool Smashers and Angels will settle the championship in a rubber match.
[ALSO READ: A look back: The four other times Creamline and Petro Gazz clashed for the PVL crown]
In their previous Game 3 encounters, Petro Gazz and Creamline have beaten each other back in 2019 and 2023.
Back in the 2019 Reinforced Conference, after dropping Game 1, the Angels roared back to reclaim the crown. Fast forward to the 2023 All-Filipino Conference Finals, the Cool Smashers did the same—bouncing back from a Game 1 loss before closing the series in Game 3 in four sets.
On both occasions, the eventual winner of the series came from the Game 2 victor.
[ALSO READ: LIST: PVL Finals series that went the distance with a winner-take-all Game 3]
If history is any indication, momentum should favor Creamline once again, especially after surviving a grueling five-setter in Game 2, 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9.
However, Petro Gazz has shown time and again that it thrives in adversity, and with MVP Brooke Van Sickle leading the charge, the Angels are more than capable of flipping the narrative.
Keys to Victory
For Creamline:
The Cool Smashers must continue to capitalize on their balanced offense.
Bernadeth Pons has emerged as a reliable scorer, while Jema Galanza’s resurgence in Game 2 was a welcome boost.
[ALSO READ: Jema Galanza vows all-out effort in Creamline’s winner-take-all Game 3 battle for PVL crown]
Setter Kyle Negrito will also need to maintain her steady orchestration to keep the Petro Gazz blockers guessing.
But perhaps the biggest key will be their mental toughness—a trait they’ve long been known for—to withstand Petro Gazz’s aggressive plays, especially if momentum swings early.
For Petro Gazz:
The Angels need Van Sickle firing on all cylinders, not just on offense but also on service receive and floor defense.
Supporting scorers like Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, and Jonah Sabete will need to chip in consistently to take some pressure off the reigning All-Filipino MVP.
[ALSO: Myla Pablo determined to power through calf injury as Petro Gazz eyes PVL All-Filipino crown]
Veteran setters Djanel Cheng and Chie Saet will also play a crucial role in making sure that sets are properly placed among its talented spikers and middle blockers.
More importantly, Petro Gazz must minimize their unforced errors—a problem that plagued them throughout Game 2, especially amid Creamline runs.
[ALSO READ: Why is winner-take-all Game 3 at PhilSports Arena? PVL explains Finals venue decision]
With the title on the line, legacies on the court, and no tomorrow after the final whistle, Saturday night’s battle at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig promises to be another instant classic.