Creamline Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Creamline and Petro Gazz may have split their matches in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference but coach Sherwin Meneses believes that his Cool Smashers have the edge with their team chemistry and championship experience.
For the fifth time in the PVL, the Cool Smashers and Angels fight for the championship in a best-of-three finals series starting on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
SCHEDULE: 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals
In their recent head-to-head, Creamline opened its season with a masterful win over Petro Gazz last year but in the more important duel, the Angels kicked off their semifinals campaign with a four-set win over the defending champions and eventually swept their way to advance to the finals.
The semifinals opener loss served as a wake-up call for the Cool Smashers as they dominated Akari and Choco Mucho both in straight sets for their seventh consecutive finals and 14th appearance in the last 15 tournaments.
Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate a point during the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals against Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“I’m really happy that we made it to the Finals, even though we lost Game 1 in the semifinals. Now, we have a chance to defend Creamline’s title and bounce back against Petro Gazz. Our goal is always to defend the crown,” said Meneses in Filipino.
For the seven-time PVL champion coach, his Cool Smashers have the slight advantage with the connection between his players led by Bernadeth Pons, Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Bea De Leon, Pangs Panaga, Kyle Negrito, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.
“I think it’s a pretty even match between Petro Gazz and Creamline Both teams are veterans, so I feel like Creamline has the edge in terms of chemistry. We always work hard, but Petro Gazz is also a strong team with almost the same lineup as before. It’s definitely going to be a great Finals match,” said Meneses. “But of course, we’re Creamline, and we’re not just going to give up. Our main goal is to defend the crown, so we’ll work really hard for it.”
READ: PVL: Creamline braces for deep Petro Gazz squad led by Van Sickle
Creamline also has a deep roster also bannered by Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Kyla Atienza.
But Meneses believes Petro Gazz is the more veteran squad with Chie Saet, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Myla Pablo, Djanel Cheng, Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, MJ Phillips, Joy Dacoron, and Jellie Tempiatura, aside from their main gunner and reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle.
“We’ll study and prepare for our next opponents carefully. As for Petro Gazz, they have a lot of veterans like Aiza and Chie, so they’re definitely experienced too,” he said. “Of course, we need to improve with every practice. I think we’ll really focus on our blocking against Petro Gazz.”
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Creamline is eyeing its 11th title and fifth straight All-Filipino title with Petro Gazz standing in its way, seeking its first All-Filipino title after losing to the Cool Smashers in its last three tries in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
